Deadlock continues over huge power bill

FIVE Nelson Mandela Bay high-energy users, who owe the municipality more than R100-million in electricity debt, feel they are under no obligation to reimburse the city and say they are considering further legal action against the metro.

The companies, who failed in their court bid to have the 2011-2012 budget set aside by the Port Elizabeth High Court on the grounds the municipality's public participation process was flawed, are planning to challenge the process leading up to the passing of the 2014-2015 budget.

The five companies – Borbet SA, Halberg Guss SA, Shatterprufe, Xmeco and Sovereign Foods – have not been paying their electricity in full since 2011.

In February, the outstanding bill for the five companies was R110-million. - Rochelle de Kock