JOHANNESBURG - Parliament has revealed households, businesses and government departments owe 69 municipalities nearly R218billion.
The figure emerged during a joint committee meeting on Treasury's decision to withhold equitable-share funding to the municipalities for July.
Of the R217.8billion owed, government departments and other organs of state account for R11.6billion.
MPs want these state institutions identified and held accountable.
They warn that withholding funds is not a recovery plan, and communities must not be punished for municipal failures.