North West Municipalities Owe Eskom Billions: Blame Game Heats Up

Holifil

02 Apr, 2025

The City of Matlosana in Klerksdorp, North West, is among 11 municipalities in the province that owe Eskom a staggering amount of money.
Together, these municipalities owe Eskom a total of R7.5 billion, despite some making efforts to settle their debts.
Many South Africans are pointing fingers at the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), for the financial mismanagement.

Tebogo Mokwena, a seasoned current affairs journalist for Briefly News, has spent seven years covering economic, financial, and state-owned enterprise topics at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

Netizens have laid the blame for the massive debt at the feet of the ANC. Images: Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images and Oliver Heilbig. Source: Getty Images

NORTH WEST — Eskom, the state-owned electricity provider, has disclosed that 11 municipalities in the North West province are collectively in arrears to the tune of R7.5 billion for unpaid electricity bills. This staggering debt highlights a growing financial crisis within the province's local government structures.

Mounting Debt for Eskom

According to SABC News, the City of Matlosana, based in Klerksdorp, tops the list of defaulters, owing Eskom a whopping R2.3 billion. The Ditsobotla Local Municipality follows closely with a debt of R1.2 billion and is reportedly unable to meet its financial obligations to Eskom. Other municipalities struggling to pay their bills include Maquassie Hills, Kgetlengrivier, Ramotshere Moiloa, Madibeng, and Naledi local municipalities.

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Eskom’s North West spokesperson, Ezekiel Baruti, revealed that only one municipality is currently participating in the municipal debt relief program. He emphasized that if municipalities fail to pay after mediation efforts, Eskom will have no choice but to take legal action. Meanwhile, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) attributes the massive debt to customers who refuse to settle their bills, exacerbating the financial strain on municipalities.

Public Criticism Targets ANC

The financial mismanagement has sparked outrage among South Africans, with many blaming the African National Congress (ANC), the dominant political party in the province. Social media platforms like Facebook have become a hotbed for criticism, with users expressing their frustration and disappointment.

Malana Roets voiced her dissatisfaction, stating, "Don’t punish us for your loss." Another commenter, Ayanda Mvala, pointed out that "corruption has been happening under the ANC for years." QP Lino Art echoed this sentiment, labeling the situation as "all part of the delinquent ANC party's legacy in South Africa." Johnnie Johnstone painted an even bleaker picture, asserting that "ANC-municipalities are mismanaged, corrupt, bankrupt, and looted." The public backlash underscores the deep distrust many citizens have in their local governance structures.

Residents in Tshwane Also in Debt

In a related issue, residents of Laudium in Tshwane are also grappling with financial challenges. According to Briefly News, they owe the City of Tshwane approximately R125 million in unpaid municipal bills. During the City’s Tshwane Ya Tima revenue-collection operation, it was discovered that the area had 52 illegal electricity connections, valued at R1.5 million. This revelation highlights the broader problem of non-compliance and illegal activities contributing to the financial burden faced by municipalities across the country.