AfriForum makes its voice heard in North West about Eskom’s excessive electricity tariff

AfriForum participated nationwide in the public consultation process on Eskom’s proposed electricity tariff increase of 36,15% and submitted its written comments on this tariff increase during the North West’s session on Monday. In its formal comments, which were presented and submitted in Klerksdorp, AfriForum opposed this excessive tariff increase.

The civil rights organisation pointed out that consumers cannot be expected to take responsibility for the long-standing mismanagement of Eskom. Eskom has submitted its proposed tariff increase for the next three years to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). The public had until yesterday (Wednesday) to comment on it.

AfriForum’s comments underlined the serious economic and social consequences of Eskom’s proposed tariff increase and emphasised how the planned costs will disproportionately burden vulnerable communities, especially low-income households who already spend a large part of their income on electricity. Moreover, rising electricity costs are the driver of cost-push inflation, which increases the price of essentials and exacerbates poverty and inequality.

“The residents in the North West simply cannot afford it if Nersa grants this tariff increase to try to resolve the situation at Eskom, especially not after the gross mismanagement of the power supplier over the years,” says Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Mooiriver region.

AfriForum’s Manager of Local Government Affairs, Morné Mostert, also expressed his concern about Eskom’s inefficiency and serious management failures during the public consultation session in Gauteng yesterday. “Nersa must not only enforce stricter compliance with regulatory frameworks but must also carry out due diligence at Eskom itself, which will ensure that only legitimate expenditures are included in the tariff calculations.”

AfriForum will carefully monitor the outcome of the public consultation process and act if unfair practices and malpractices are observed.