Note to editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Dr Jack Bloom MPL.
The Gauteng Health Department owes an astounding R144 million for electricity to five local municipalities, but they claim that two cut-offs were due to administrative errors rather than non-payment.
These figures are disclosed in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
Most of the money owing is to Ekurhuleni – R118 million in total for more than 31 days.
Midvaal Council is owed R17.5 million and Johannesburg R8.6 million, while Eskom is owed R342 000. Mogale City is owed R118 000 and R12000 is outstanding to Lesedi.
According to the department, Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital was cut off for two days in May last year due to the Tshwane municipality’s failure to upload invoices.
Ekurhuleni cut power to the Dunswart Provincial Laundry for 16 days from 27 May to 11 June 2025. The department says no amount was outstanding, but the Department of Infrastructure Development had not paid the property rates.
It is deplorable that a provincial government department owes so much to local government which needs the money to provide basic services to residents.
On both sides, excuses are made for billing disputes that should be speedily resolved before escalating to disruptive cut-offs that hurt patients in hospitals.
The DA will continue to push for the Gauteng administration to pay for municipal services as promptly as everyone else is expected to do.