Executive mayor Ray van Rooy recently added his “no” with those of other municipalities who reject Eskom’s proposed price increase of 20.5%.
In a statement released by the Bergrivier Municipality Van Rooy explains he supports other municipalities who have submitted rejection letters to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) following Eskom’s application for a 20.5% electricity price increase.
“The community of Bergrivier Municipality simply cannot afford the proposed 20,5% increase for 2022 considering the current state of the economy, unemployment and the continued struggle to make ends meet that is further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdown and the continued state of disaster that we find ourselves in,” the mayor urged.
Swartland Municipality also joined the call. “Every year our residents must pay the price for years of poor management at the national energy provider,” says Executive Mayor, Herold Cleophas.
“Affordable electricity is essential for developing and maintaining a strong, job-driven economy. Eskom’s proposed increases of 20,5%, 15,07% and 10% for the next three years will eliminate all hope of growing our economy and will instead push us into a recession that will be more devastating than the lockdown of the past two years.”
He said irrespective of the merit of Eskom’s application, “it cannot be denied that the predicament the energy provider finds itself in is of its own making”.
According to Van Rooy the municipality’s submission was for NERSA to limit Eskom’s price increase to 6%. He also urged residents to add to a petition calling for a rejection of the proposed increase.
The link can be accessed via the municipality’s Facebook page.
