AfriForum takes Tshwane to court over electricity tariffs
Civil rights organisation, AfriForum, has approached the
courts about the electricity increases implemented in the Capital on the 1st of
July.
AfriForum has served court papers on the Tshwane Metro and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) yesterday, claiming the Tshwane Metro had implemented unlawful electricity increases without Nersa's approval.
According to Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum's District Coordinator for Greater Pretoria, the Tshwane Metro maintains that it is the Metro's executive authority and the city leaders may therefore implement the increased tariffs without the necessary approval.
"According to the law, however, the Tshwane Metro is not authorised to implement the increase and we will act against this unfairness. Since neither Nersa nor the Tshwane Metro replied to any of AfriForum's correspondence, we have no other remedy but to approach the court urgently," says Grobbelaar.
In terms of Schedule 14 of the Electricity Regulatory Act (act No 4 of 2006), the municipality may not implement an increased electricity tariff without Nersa's approval.
Listen below: