JoburgCAN demands Eskom-Joburg deal before power-cut deadline

By Akani Nkuna

The Johannesburg Community Action Network (CAN) has called on Eskom, the City of Johannesburg and City Power to publish the terms of any agreement aimed at averting electricity interruptions in Johannesburg, saying residents cannot be expected to participate meaningfully in a public process while key information remains hidden.

The civic organisation said on Friday that public reports of an agreement to resolve City Power’s debt crisis had not been matched by “tangible evidence” that such an agreement exists, what it contains, or whether Eskom’s public participation process on possible supply interruptions has been withdrawn.

Eskom issued a notice in May saying the City of Johannesburg and City Power owed it more than R5.25 billion in arrears, excluding a further R1.58 billion current account payment due in June. The utility said at the time it intended to reduce, interrupt or terminate supply to certain bulk supply points because