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[1]          The Inxuba Yethemba Municipality, which includes amongst others Cradock and Middelburg, owes Eskom Holdings Limited (Eskom) a large sum of money in respect of electricity provided by Eskom for which the municipality has not paid.  On 21 June 2019 the Cradock Business Forum, Middelburg Ratepayers Association and Cradock Ratepayers Association (the applicants) instituted an application against Eskom, the first respondent, the National Energy Regulator, the second respondent, the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality, its executive mayor and municipal manager, as third, fourth and fifth respondents respectively (collectively referred to as “the municipality”), the Member of the Executive Council responsible for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Eastern Cape, as the sixth respondent and the Minister responsible for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, as the seventh respondent.