AfriForum opposes Eskom’s price shock at public hearing
The civil rights organisation AfriForum will on 11 May 2018 make a submission at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) public hearing to oppose Eskom’s excessive Regulatory Clearing Account (RCA). Eskom wants to recover R67 billion from consumers and that means that electricity prices can be increased with 30% or more.
Dr Eugene Brink, AfriForum’s Strategic Adviser for Community Affairs, says that such an increase will be extremely sensitive to consumers at a time in which the economy is starting to show signs of recovery post-Zuma. “Eskom – and for that matter the entire state – too easily recovers money from tax payers and consumers for problems that they created themselves. Such high increases will not only be reflected in electricity prices, but also in increased inflation and more expensive goods and services.
“That is why AfriForum as civil rights watchdog will be presenting the public’s case before Nersa. It will not help to continue taking money from the public if municipalities owe billions and not much attention has been given to other problems such as Eskom’s oversized workforce, corruption, maladministration and compensation structure,” says Brink.
He encourages the public to participate in these processes to subsequently attempt to avoid a possible big Eskom price shock. The hearings have already started on 16 April in the Western Cape and during April and May one hearing will be held in each province.
The schedule is as follows:
18 April 2018
Eastern Cape: Eastcape Training Centre (ETC), Spondo Street, Struandale, Port Elizabeth
19 April 2018
KwaZulu-Natal: International Conference Centre, 45 Bram Fischer Road, Durban
23 April 2018
North West: Matlosana Civic Centre, Cnr Bram Fischer and Emily Hobhouse Streets, Klerksdorp
3 May 2018
Northern Cape: Mittah Seperepere Conference Centre, 10 W. Circular Road, Kimberley
4 May 2018
Free State: Protea Hotel Bloemfontein, 202 Nelson Mandela Drive, Brandwag, Bloemfontein
7 May 2018
Mpumalanga: Orion Hotel, Cnr Samora Machel Drive and Henshall Street, Nelspruit
9 May 2018
Limpopo: Limpopo Garden Court, Cnr Thabo Mbeki and President Paul Kruger Streets, Polokwane
11 May 2018
Gauteng: Walter Sisulu Square, Cnr Klipspruit Valley and Union Roads, Kliptown, Pimville Zone 9, Soweto
