(1)Whether the Naledi Local Municipality in the North West faces imminent restrictions on the use of electricity as a result of failing to pay its Eskom bills; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the full reasons for the specified municipality’s failure to meet its financial obligations to Eskom, (b) by what date will it settle its debt and (c) what steps are being taken to ameliorate the impact of the restrictions and resolve the problem;
(2) whether all revenue generated by the so-called smart-meter system in the municipality is utilised to settle its bulk electricity costs; if not, (a) why not and (b) what are the specified funds being used for; if so, what are the full relevant details of all (i) income generated and (ii) payments made for bulk electricity costs since 1 June 2016;
(3) whether his department has taken any steps to ensure that the situation between the municipality and Eskom are normalised in the long term; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of each intervention implemented to date;
(4) whether any steps have been taken to negotiate with Eskom to address municipalities’ concerns around the (a) interest rate charged and (b) 15-day billing cycle used by Eskom; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NW56E