Eskom is in talks with the World Bank to secure a loan of R23-billion in order to help fund its R40-billion debt shortfall.

The Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, announced in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement yesterday that there was no money left to help fund Eskom’s debt.

Mr Gordhan announced that the government’s budget deficit would reach about 7.6% of GDP for the present fiscal year.