Looming protests over possible Eskom tariff increases
Mass protest action could materialise if Eskom is allowed to go ahead with its proposed tariff increases.
That's the warning from some local ratepayers' associations ahead of national energy regulator, NERSA's public hearings on the issue in Durban later this week.
Eskom has applied for annual increase of 15-percent over the next three years to recover revenue losses in excess of R762-billion.
Ivor Aylward's with the Bluff Ratepayers' Association, south of Durban.
"We had an increase in petrol and now the petrol price is reduced. Nothing comes down, everything stays the same. All South Africans are in a terrible situation," Aylward said.
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NERSA is busy holding countrywide public hearings on the application. The Durban leg takes place on Thursday and Friday at the ICC.
Ish Praladh from the Reservoir Hill Ratepayers Association says authorities need to look for alternate ways of recouping lost funds.
"We have plans - we're trying to monitor our group and it takes a heavy impact on us as rate-paying citizens. They should look at reducing all the salaries of the councillors and government employees."
