Morning Brief – Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Good morning. Today we’re covering municipalities who fail to pay their electricity bills, leaving Eskom with yet another headache, unions and Putco finally agree on wage increases, and Delta will fly from Cape Town seven days a week during summer.

Culture of non-payment leaves Eskom with a R50bn debt headache – Daily Maverick

A deep-rooted culture of municipalities not paying for electricity procured from Eskom has left the struggling power utility with a massive problem and a bill of nearly R50 billion that municipalities have failed to pay.

The total debt owed to Eskom increased by nearly R10 billion between September 30, 2021, and July 2022 with August’s results still being finalised said Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha.

“Due to continuing low payment levels, the outstanding debt has been steadily increasing monthly,” said Mantshantsha. Read more here.

Unions, Putco settle on agreement as employees accept 6% wage offer – News24

After a lengthy stand-off between Putco and labour unions, employees accepted a 6% wage offer after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) facilitated three-day meetings.

Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu said employees would receive the wage increase from October 1 without the 2020 backpay that was initially asked for while the 105 employees that were dismissed last week can lodge appeals through their unions. Read more here.

The US’ Delta Air Lines will fly daily to Cape Town from December – Business Insider

There will be more options than ever to travel from South Africa to the United States this summer and especially for those wanting to leave from Cape Town after Delta Airlines announced it will have seven flights a week travelling between Cape Town and Atlanta during the height of the season.

Four times a week flights will depart Atlanta and first land at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo and then in Cape Town before returning to the US. Importantly, this will only be for international travel, meaning passengers cannot only fly the Joburg–Cape Town leg without travelling on to the US. There will also be three direct non-stop flights between Cape Town and Atlanta weekly. Read more here.