Chairperson, I wish to pay tribute to my colleague Mr Eric Lucas, who has resigned from Parliament but who served on this committee for a long time. I thank him for his ... [Interjections.] I hear the Minister saying she misses him. [Applause.] We also miss him.
I wish to address the very serious electricity challenge that consumers face because some municipalities do not pay Eskom. This leads to threats from Eskom to cut the electricity supply to municipalities, as happened recently in Klerksdorp, when Eskom threatened to cut the town's electricity. Why? It is because the Klerksdorp Municipality was in arrears with Eskom to the tune of approximately R100 million, which was intended for Eskom, but which the municipality had used. The urgent question I therefore wish to address is why municipalities use the money paid to them by consumers, whilst part of the money should go to Eskom.
As an example, consider a consumer who gets an account from the municipality for R1 000 for electricity usage. Part of that R1 000 should be paid by the municipality to Eskom, but they don't. The point I wish to emphasise is that it is in the interest of all electricity consumers in our country - all of us here - that municipalities should not be allowed to use the money which is earmarked for payment to Eskom.
Let me quote another example. If a client approaches an attorney to handle a case for him, the attorney will phone an advocate and get some quotes and say it might cost the client R100 000. The attorney's fee will be R30 000, but R70 000 must be kept in trust to pay the advocate. Now, what is important is that the attorney is not allowed to use the R70 000 which is in trust for the advocate. I suggest that the same should apply in respect of payment to Eskom. When consumers pay their electricity bill, Eskom's portion should be put in trust for payment to Eskom. The municipality should not use the money for other purposes, because it is held in trust for Eskom. This practice should protect consumers against being without electricity because municipalities have used Eskom's money for other purposes.
In addition, still on the same subject, I should like to know from the hon Minister how many municipalities are currently in arrears with regard to payments to Eskom. Secondly, how much are these arrears? Eskom obviously has this information, and I submit that it is in the interest of the public to know that. I should also like to know why Eskom does not take early steps to recover arrears from municipalities. Why are matters allowed to develop to an advanced stage where threats are then made to cut the electricity? Why not sue the municipalities at an early stage?
In conclusion, I wish the department and the Ministry well for the coming year. The IFP supports the budget. I thank you. [Applause.]