National Treasury is set to impose 28 conditions on Eskom in return for a R59bn lifeline to keep the cash-strapped power utility afloat and enable it to pay interest on its mounting debt burden.
Treasury updated Parliament’s appropriations oversight committee on the conditions attached to an appropriations bill on Wednesday. The bill, which has not yet been passed by Parliament, grants R59bn to Eskom over two years. This is in addition to R69bn over three years announced by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni in his maiden February budget.
In addition to regular and detailed reports of all its finances, Treasury has stipulated the utility needs to recover all debt owed to it by errant municipalities, national department and corporations, including Soweto.
“Eskom cannot provide electricity and not collect debt,” Treasury’s acting director-general of the assets and Liabilities Tshepiso Moahloli told MPs. “Members, we know that between Soweto and municipalities –
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