Will clearing Eskom's debt be a solution?

JOHANNESBURG - This week's budget speech should clarify how government plans to deal with Eskom's burgeoning debt.

National Treasury has pledged to take over as much as two-thirds of the SOEs R400-billion debt.

READ: Cosatu calls on Finance Minister to help relieve Eskom debt burden

Economists widely agree that economic growth and job creation are at the mercy of a well-functioning power utility.

But government needs to watch its balance sheet carefully as taking on Eskom’s debt will mean the state diving further into debt.

* eNCA's Heidi Giokos reports.