The Ditsobotla Local Municipality in Lichtenburg in the North West has cut electricity supply to several businesses, government offices and schools, citing non-payment of electricity debts.
The municipality is facing severe financial challenges, including its own R1.4 billion debt to Eskom.
Acting Chief Financial Officer of the municipality, Ntesang Moagi, says residents and businesses were issued a 14-day notice before their power was cut.
Moagi says repeated attempts were made to engage government departments who also owe the municipality however talks yielded no results.
We have been communicating with them, having several meetings and asking the province to intervene but they are just not coming to the party and on Monday with our management meeting, we just decided it does not help. We tried to communicate with them because they are government but for many years they have not been paying, and the sad part is they are getting their income from 100 grant while our income is only 30 from grant and 70, we have to collect. Now we are sitting with creditors that we cannot pay but they dont want to pay their accounts.