The DA is to lead a nationwide protest against Eskom’s 40 percent tariff hike, arguing that no South African should have to choose between paying for electricity or food. File Picture: Supplied
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be staging protests across all nine provinces on Wednesday, September 18 to oppose Eskom's planned 40% tariff increase, scheduled for implementation in 2025.
This action follows Eskom's announcement in early August, outlining the substantial hike, which the DA has strongly condemned.
The DA opposes the increase, arguing that it will force millions of households to make the difficult choice between food and electricity.
In addition to organising protests, the DA has tabled an urgent debate in Parliament to address the tariff hikes and the process through which these increases are determined.
They have also launched a public petition, urging South Africans to oppose the hike. The petition, which currently has 86,261 signatures, is aiming to reach 100,000 signatures.
The DA has criticised Eskom's practice of charging a "made-up" tariff to cover lost revenue from previous years, which they argue creates a vicious cycle of increases.
On September 18, designated as the National Day of Action, the DA is calling on people across various provinces to support their cause.
In an interview video posted on their X account, individuals have voiced their concerns about the potential tariff increase.
Betty Zodumo expressed disappointment and promised to join the DA in their fight, saying, "This will lead to more illegal connections in our residence. On Wednesday, I will be at Parliament to support the DA in fighting the tariff hike."
Anthony Bantich shared similar sentiments, stating, "I am definitely supporting the DA to take this further because it is just ludicrous that we are paying for past mistakes."
Karen Davids urged Eskom to reconsider their decision, highlighting the financial strain on households, and expressed her support for the DA, saying, "We will have to spend more money on electricity, and I back the DA in this fight."
Meanwhile, Eyewitness News reported that lobby group AfriForum has confirmed that a handful of municipalities have submitted their cost-of-supply studies for the tariff increases, after initially missing the deadline earlier this year.
Last month, the High Court in Pretoria ruled that over 100 municipalities had unlawfully implemented price hikes for the 2023/2024 financial year, as they failed to submit the necessary documents.
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