The Newcastle municipality says it wants to organise a payment plan with Eskom instead of battling it out in court.
The municipality owes Eskom over R200 million in debt accumulated over the past two years.
The power utility wants the court to allow it to cut power supply to the municipality if it misses payment on its debt.
Newcastle mayor Ntuthuko Mahlaba says the court battle between Eskom and the municipality is unnecessary.
He says they want to go into negotiations with Eskom and agree on a payment plan.
“We are not fighting. We are hoping that even today Eskom will just say, ‘Let us sign an agreement’, because since we came here and there was a court order we have managed to pay what was owed.”
Meanwhile, Eskom insists that there have been previous payment plans which the municipality has failed to honour.
Friday, the power utility reiterated its call to the court to get permission to switch off the lights if the municipality does not pay.
The matter has been adjourned to next week.
More Stories
Read: Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s Full Budget Speech
Watch: Finance Minister Tito Mboweni Delivers 2021 Budget Speech
Here’s How SA Will Tackle the Freezing and Transit of COVID-19 Vaccines
Next Batch Of Vaccines Arrive On Saturday – Mkhize
Port Elizabeth And Two EC Airports Renamed
Eskom fraud case postponed to June
SA Reports 998 New COVID-19 Cases
Turning Prasa Around A ‘Mammoth Task’ – Ramatlakane
Zuma Corruption Case Back In Court
Matrics With Special Needs Score Over 500 Distinctions
SA Reports 792 New COVID-19 Cases
Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo Files Application To Jail Zuma For 2 Years