AfriForum requests NERSA to withdraw AbaQulusi’s electricity distribution licence

On 15 August, AfriForum’s Vryheid branch asked the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to withdraw AbaQulusi Local Municipality’s electricity distribution licence. This comes after the further deterioration of the distribution network in Vryheid and surrounding communities, while several complaints to and promises by the municipality remain unanswered.

“In 2019, AfriForum asked NERSA to conduct an audit on the AbaQulusi Local Municipality and provide an opportunity for complaints from the community. Ever since there has been no improvement in services to distribute electricity. As a result, the town’s electricity supply has become a catastrophe. We have no choice but to ask NERSA to review the municipality’s distribution license,” says André van der Walt, chairperson of the Vryheid branch.

“In a recent community meeting with the municipality, it became clear that no official can or wants to account for the ongoing poor service delivery. On the contrary, political parties want to give answers. Political parties may not interfere with the administration. This is a clear sign that this municipality has been hijacked,” says Eugene van Aswegen, Provincial Coordinator of KwaZulu-Natal.

AfriForum will continue to put pressure on the authorities to review this licence.