Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
19 November 2024 | 12:23 CAT

DA members were picketing outside Nersa offices in Arcadia, opposing the electricity tariff increase. (Raymond Morare/ Daily Sun)

Public outrage continues to grow as Eskom faces sharp criticism for its proposed 36% electricity tariff hike for 2025. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) began public hearings on the matter, sparking protests led by Cape Town Mayor Gordon Hill Lewis and the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Protesters, including DA’s Kevin Mileham, handed over a petition with 200,000 signatures to NERSA last week, opposing the increase. “It’s unfair to burden consumers with the cost of Eskom’s inefficiencies, wasteful expenditure, and historic mismanagement,” Mileham told Radio Islam International. He highlighted the 250-billion-rand bailouts Eskom has received over the last decade, questioning why South Africans must now pay more for electricity while the utility’s finances remain in disarray.

The protest shows deep-seated concerns, including Eskom’s debt from projects like Medupi and Kusile, which Mileham described as “a legacy of state capture, corruption, and mismanagement.” Municipalities’ unpaid debts, totalling around 90 billion rand, further exacerbate the crisis.

Civil society and political groups have rallied behind the protests, with many arguing that the tariff hike will stifle economic growth. “We need competition in the energy sector and alternative power solutions,” Mileham asserted, adding that independent power producers have played a significant role in mitigating load shedding.

The proposed hike comes as many South Africans are still reeling from the economic impact of load shedding, which Mileham described as “the single biggest handbrake on our economy over the last 15 years.”

Citizens are encouraged to participate in NERSA’s public hearings or sign the DA’s petition at stoppowergrab.da.org.za to oppose the increase. “The voices of ordinary South Africans must be heard,” Mileham urged.

The debate over Eskom’s proposed tariff hike is far from over, with public participation and protests set to continue. The outcome of NERSA’s hearings will determine whether South Africans face another financial burden or if public outcry will lead to a more sustainable solution.

Listen here to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Kevin Mlieham.