Eskom pays more than R70 billion a year on debt interest.
That’s why it is still urgent that Eskom restructure its debt, Eskom CEO André de Ruyter said on Tuesday.
Speaking in Parliament to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCO), Eskom is working “aggressively” to recover municipal and Soweto debt, and has improved the Soweto payment rate from a historic 12% to the current 25%.
Eskom is working with the National Treasury to streamline its procurement processes, but to remain within the Public Finance Management Act.
Eskom will operate the Hendrina, Camden and Grootvlei power stations for a longer period than the original closing date.
Eskom also now has a special mechanism for recruiting outside experts for critical tasks in the organization.
The maintenance plan for 3,200 MW of power stations will be adapted to do the necessary critical maintenance.
Bartlett Hewu, acting general manager at Eskom for legislation and compliance, says the Hawks and the president’s special investigative unit, as well as the Zondo Commission, are constantly conducting their investigations into fraud and corruption at Eskom, in addition to Eskom’s own forensic investigations.