SAMWU raises concern over Treasury’s decision to withhold reasonable share

Mbasa Gqokoma
13 April 2015

The South African Municipal Workers Union has raised its concern regarding a decision by the National Treasury to withhold reasonable share to 60 municipalities.

This follows Treasury’s announcement that twenty municipalities owe Eskom R3.6 billion and failure to pay will result in services being cut and funding withheld.

Samwu Spokesperson Papikie Mohale said this decision is not fair as some municipalities were given just under two weeks to settle the current accounts owed to Eskom.

Mohale said they believe that Treasury should consider how it allocates funds more especially by increasing funds to municipalities as municipalities are underfunded.

 

"We have also condemned the decision by Eskom to cut electricity supply to certain municipalities which collectively owed R3.6 billion. Eskom says that these 20 municipalities are the top 20 defaulters," Mohale added.