ANA reports that Cosatu said on Tuesday that national government had a duty to intervene and help municipalities owing billions of rands to Eskom.  

The labour federation urged government to work with Eskom and the defaulting municipalities to find a compromise, instead of cutting off electricity and plunging many communities into darkness.  "Eskom's decision will have a negative effect on our already struggling economy and contribute to more retrenchments.  Cutting electricity may result in businesses such as farms and mines retrenching workers, when we cannot afford to lose a single job," Cosatu said in a statement.  The federation went on to state:  "National government cannot allow these municipalities to deal with this problem alone; it has a responsibility of ensuring affordability, especially for poor households.  As a result of rising unemployment, incomes for the majority have virtually stagnated in real terms."

• Read this report in full at Business Report
• Read Cosatu’s press statement in this regard at Cosatu Today

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