The court ruled that the rights of Eskom’s consumers cannot trump its right to lawfully collect debt from owing municipalities.
A judge has dismissed an application by civil rights group AfriForum with costs, saying municipalities must be held accountable.
AfriForum had launched an urgent application trying to stop Eskom from flipping the switch on the municipalities, saying the move would have unfair consequences for ratepayers.
AfriForum’s main application on the issue will be heard in March and will challenge the lawfulness of cutting power to entire municipalities despite many residents paying for electricity.
Judge Hans Fabricius ruled on Thursday morning that for now, the power utility is empowered by law to stop services to recover money that it's owed.
The municipalities in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape have until Tuesday to settle their accounts.
