Cape Town — The African National Congress (ANC) has joined the Democratic Alliance (DA) in rejecting the proposed request by Eskom to increase the electricity tariff.
Eskom approached the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to request a 36% tariff increase for the upcoming financial year. The DA did not take kindly to this and embarked on protests throughout the country to encourage people to sign a petition and not allow the tariffs to be implemented, EWN reported.
The party argued that the power utility needed to propose a more reasonable increase, and warned that a rise of 36% would cause further strain to South Africans who are already cash-strapped.
In support of the DA’s demands, the ANC has echoed the DA’s sentiments and acknowledged that a tariff increase was necessary, it was also concerned about the unaffordability. The ANC emphasised the need for a concerted effort to find a solution that benefitted both Eskom and households.
🚨Today in Parliament the DA’s Urgent Debate against Eskom’s outrageous R8-billion extra tariff, and 40% electricity tariff hike, is centre stage.
Over 100,000 people have signed the DA petition against the hike. Join the fight now at: https://t.co/eVMPGmDHlZ#StopPowerGrab pic.twitter.com/4BdclyZOjA
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) September 19, 2024
According to IOL, many civil society groups in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) are concerned that Eskom’s proposed 40% hike for municipal consumers would affect impoverished and middle-income earners.
Evashnee Naidu, Black Sash regional manager in KZN was concerned about the tariff increase as she felt social grant beneficiaries and low-income earners would bear the brunt of the increase.
“This leads to a situation of food insecurity in the households of the poorest of the poor as they are unable to buy, knowing that they may not be able to afford to purchase electricity for an entire month to preserve their food,” she said.
Naidu said it would lead to a situation where people would be forced to choose between buying food or electricity.
Mervyn Abrahams of the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group said any increase in energy prices at a time when salary increases had not been in line with inflation was unfair to consumers. He added that while Eskom may have a valid reason for the increase, it would create unnecessary pressure which could result in more illegal connections.
Dr Dick Forslund, from the Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC), said the proposed increase was outrageous, while Wafaa Abdurahman, national co-ordinator for Fight Inequality Alliance SA, said people wouldn’t survive with the tariff increase.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
