Growing anger over 19% Eskom tariff increase
There are growing calls for power utility Eskom not to implement the tariff price it was granted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).
Last week, Nersa granted the struggling power utility a 18.65% tariff increase for the 2023/24 financial year.
The latest price increase, which comes amid the worsening load shedding crisis, has been met with anger and frustration by most South Africans.
The #StandUpSA movement is one of the organisations making its voice heard, saying it has been left with no choice but to take to the streets.
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Organiser and spokesperson Khustaz Mtwentwe says the group will march to the utility's headquarters in Johannesburg in February to hand over their list of demands.
"We are going to hand over to Eskom to say that we are saying no to the tariff increase and it must be scrapped. At the same time we want Eskom to take accountability and provide us with weekly updates on the maintenance schedule of these power stations.
"They must make sure that coal companies that have been providing Eskom sub-standard coal be exposed and sanctioned. So this is a march in which we are upset and fed up and want electricity. We are going there but we are also angry at the same time."
