Limpopo Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba has reaffirmed the commitment of the province’s municipalities to settle their Eskom debt.
Limpopo’s municipalities hold the lowest debt to Eskom, amounting to R1.6 billion out of the R100 billion owed nationwide by municipalities.
Ramathuba made these remarks following a meeting on Monday where government officials, including Energy and Electricity Minister Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, gathered to discuss load reduction strategies.
“The challenge posed by Eskom debt has been thoroughly analyzed. We are actively seeking solutions that not only address our current debt but also bolster our municipal planning and financial management capabilities, along with enhancing our technological expertise,” said Ramathuba.
“This meeting unites the Ministry of Electricity and Energy with the Limpopo provincial government to tackle challenges and find effective solutions.”
Ramokgopa, on the other hand, said: “Together, we are exploring innovative strategies and partnerships to empower communities, improve service delivery, and ensure reliable and affordable electricity access for every household.”
Ramokgopa also assured that the government is actively taking steps to eliminate load reduction nationwide.
Despite extended periods without rolling blackouts across the country, some rural villages in Limpopo still experience daily electricity disruptions.
Ramokgopa, following his meeting with Limpopo municipal mayors in Polokwane on Monday, said that resources are being allocated to combat load reduction.
“We are intensifying efforts against load reduction. It is a priority, and we are mobilizing all necessary resources to enhance the capacity of distribution and reticulation infrastructure. This includes addressing issues like leakage and informal electricity connections by transitioning consumers onto prepaid smart-electricity platforms managed jointly by Eskom and municipalities.” he said.
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