The Gauteng government owed its local municipalities R476 million, spokeswoman Matlakala Motloung said.
She said the province managed to pay off over a quarter of the total debt in the last three months.
“Gauteng provincial departments owed local authorities R476m at the end of June 2012, a fact that we are not quite content about,” Motloung said in a statement.
“This was a reduction from the R619m owed by departments at the end of March 2012.”
Three departments still owed municipalities substantial amounts.
The department of infrastructure development was in debt of about R182m, the education department owed about R107m, and the health department R100m.
“Government debt to municipalities often relates to assessment rates and services that have in certain instances accumulated over an extended period of time,” said Motloung.
A debt management committee had been formed to help in the matter.
“Because we are cognisant of the importance of cash-flow to municipalities, we have been working hand-in-glove with local authorities to ensure that we meet our obligations faster.”

Comments
thabiso992000
But they have the audicity, siting bloody ministerial handbook, to splash our hard earned money on unnecessary expensive vehicles and refurbishments after refurbishments of their offices and homes, siissss, ba nkga dintja tseReport Abuse
MommaC
Oh well done Nomvula. (as Hardy would have said) There is another fine mess you've got us intoReport Abuse
Dzel
Gauteng can't even pays its municipalities. the real question is how much is owed to both private and public service providers.You literally have to beg GSSC go get paid but it takes one phone call to get invoices settled for those with the right political connections. Gauteng runs its services as if they are doing the public a favour, expect no accountability nor expediency when dealing with these guys.
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kolobe
what sowetan decided not to bring to your attentionWorker killed with jumper cables
2012-09-04 20:23
Mahikeng - A farmer and his son were arrested in Piet Plessis near Vryburg, on Tuesday, for electrocuting a farmworker and almost killing another, North West police said.
"According to an eyewitness, another farmworker, the two [men] were called to the storeroom and were accused of stealing two tyres and 25 litres of diesel," Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.
When the two workers denied stealing the items, the farmer, 69, and his son, 33, allegedly tied them up with chains, assaulted them and shocked them with jumper cables. The men allegedly also pointed a firearm at them.
One farmworker died at the scene and the other was injured.
The farmer and his son allegedly offered the eyewitness R1 500 to keep quiet, but after realising that one man might have died they rushed him to a nearby clinic. The man was pronounced dead on arrival.
"At the clinic, the suspects alleged that the deceased fainted after drinking too much alcohol at the weekend."
However, after police were called to the clinic, the injured farmworker told them what had happened. He was later transferred to the Mahikeng provincial hospital.
The men would appear in the Vryburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on charges of murder, attempted murder, assault and the pointing of a firearm.
- SAPA
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SOLUTIONS
So kolobe is trying to divert the fact that his criminal organisation is stealing billions with the murder of 2 people.If the 2 guys were guilty, great, I wish this punishment were more all over, if they were not, may the killers get what they deserve.
So thanks once again to the anc supporters, this article is exactly what you are creating and supporting, well done for being to stupid to realise they are incompetent and useless.
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sabza007
@KolobeThis is sad, I hope no bail will be given to these racist murderers.Bees Le Roux was able to buy justice because he had money. This shouldn't be allowed to happen ever again. A jail term must just be that..Jail Term.
@Solutions
Are you condoning this heinous crime?????
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_Sinudeity
sabza007 - Kolobe is a race stirrer. He will use the heinous murder by two dudes, to paint an entire people as racist.Report Abuse
BraSipho
Kolobe is typical of this ANC goverment.Play the race card and hope to god the so called "Grassroot" fools do not realise they are being supressed and robbed!
How can the smallest province not pay its bills? What kind of idiots are in charge?
Did we vote for this?
Never again. Even a donkey only bumps its head once!!
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Mr.Chairman
If the government is owing one of its own(being the municipalities) so much money, imagine what private service providers must be going through. And the worst part is, no-one takes responsibility for this k@kReport Abuse
Mr.Chairman
@BraSiphoVoting for another party (Yes, the DA) is a short-term solution. Don't think about it a lot.
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