JOHANNESBURG - Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) says there need to be consequences in place for the mismanagement of funds in the Joburg metro.
Civil society groups and business chambers have served the city with legal papers, demanding tangible proof of a debt agreement with Eskom.
The power utility has been threatening to cut the electricity due to the billions owed.
OUTA’s executive manager, Julius Kleynhans, said this is a massive public interest case.
“It's the people's money, it's not the city. And again, we see political peers coming to a settlement that cannot be trusted. I think the last thing that's really important is that we need to consider that when there's an agreement, we must make sure that it's binding in court and its consequences for individuals if they don't execute it.
Kleynhans warned that if the agreement is not binding, it might fall on the shoulders of ordinary citizens.
“This escalation of debt has not occurred overnight. Provincial oversight has been lacking as well. And unfortunately, this is where we're sitting now."
City of Johannesburg has dismissed concerns about potential power disruptions as it works to settle more than R5.2 billion owed to Eskom.
Mayor Dada Morero assured residents in May that there would be no power cuts in the city.
At the time, he, alongside Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, met with Eskom CEO Dan Marokane as City Power works to settle its debt.
READ | National govt steps in to assist Joburg amid lingering 5bn Eskom debt
Municipal debt to Eskom has soared to R5.2-billion
Despite government interventions and repayment plans, Johannesburg, the country’s economic hub, has failed to settle its Eskom bill.