uMsunduzi residents 'unable to cope' with municipal price hikes
uMsunduzi ratepayers say they
are dreading April's electricity tariff hike.
National energy regulator NERSA granted Eskom a 12.7% increase last year.
The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group says the additional charges from 1 April will blow household incomes.
According to the current index, the average family in Pietermaritzburg spends a little over R900 on power each month.
Anthony Waldhausen, from the Msunduzi Association of Residents Ratepayers and Civics, says the tariff hike will greatly strain residents.
READ: Nersa approves of Eskom power transfer to NTC
"At the moment the CPI index is 5.1% and that has doubled from that increase from Eskom, and we find it quite challenging for residents.
"We are battling at the moment, and on top of that we also got an increase of 17% from the Msunduzi Municipality as well. We are unable to cope with all these increases."
