“Unbilled and Overloaded”: Ngwathe Mayor Leads Crackdown as R2.8bn Eskom Debt Looms

The Ngwathe Local Municipality, staggering under an R2.8 billion debt to Eskom, is taking the fight directly to the streets. In a high-stakes operation aimed at stemming catastrophic revenue losses, Executive Mayor Victoria De-Beer Mthombeni personally led a crackdown on illegal electricity connections and infrastructure tampering in Heilbron on Tuesday, cutting power to multiple non-compliant businesses on the spot.

The mayor, accompanied by a full contingent of MMCs, the municipal manager, and technical teams, conducted surprise audits of businesses. A major focus was shops owned by foreign nationals found to be consuming electricity illegally with “questionable purchasing history” on municipal records. Many operators were also found without the proper documentation to run a business legally.

Infrastructure Damage and a Broader Debt Crisis

The municipality directly links these illegal connections to overloading and damage to electricity infrastructure, exacerbating its financial crisis. “Such operations are critical in addressing revenue leakages, stabilising the municipality’s financial position, and ensuring sustainable electricity supply to communities,” the municipality stated.

The crackdown extends beyond private businesses. Last week, the Correctional Services facility in Parys was also disconnected for illegal, unbilled consumption, with internal wiring failing to meet safety standards.

Mayor Mthombeni highlighted a deeper systemic issue: government departments owe the municipality over R250 million. Despite notices issued last year, only R8.8 million has been recovered. This massive intergovernmental debt severely undermines the municipality’s ability to pay Eskom and maintain services.

The Heilbron operation is a dramatic symptom of a municipality in crisis. With a R2.8 billion millstone around its neck, Ngwathe is forced to police its own grid, disconnecting both rogue businesses and state departments just to survive. The mayor’s hands-on approach signals a desperate attempt to reclaim lost revenue, but the path to solvency remains blocked by a mountain of debt that no amount of local enforcement can easily dismantle.