Thank you very much, hon Chairperson and thanks to you, hon Deputy President, for a comprehensive response to the question.

However, there is one other thing that I need to check. In fact, it's common cause that most of the challenges of Eskom that result in government taking decisions from time to time to bail out Eskom, are as a result of monies that are owed to Eskom by municipalities for the supply of electricity. These municipalities owe Eskom as a result of nonpayment. Government departments do not pay their bills on time. Big businesses also owe municipalities huge sums of money, making it difficult for them to pay.

Lastly, the challenge that our own people have relates to the challenge of the culture of nonpayment, which of course was as a result of the boycotts during the apartheid regime. So, people have not yet gone to that culture. Is there a plan by government to ensure that we encourage those that owe to pay so that we reduce the monies that are spent on funding and recapitalising Eskom?

Lastly, how do we deal with the challenges of cable theft and illegal connections?

Question 7: (Contd.)