Latest news with #NkosindiphileXhakaza
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Joburg urged to scrap fixed electricity surcharge after Ekurhuleni decision
Masabata Mkwananzi | Published 2 hours ago ActionSA has thrown down the gauntlet to the City of Joburg and all Gauteng municipalities, after the Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, suspended the controversial fixed electricity surcharge. Calling the Ekurhuleni decision a wake-up call to municipalities, the party's Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni, said: 'It is no longer acceptable to balance municipal budgets by squeezing the most vulnerable residents while protecting bloated expenditure and inefficiencies in city administrations.'' This comes in the wake of public outrage and violent protests in Tembisa, where police resorted to firing rubber bullets to disperse crowds. The unrest was sparked by the City of Ekurhuleni's implementation of new electricity tariffs, which came into effect on July 1 for the 2025/26 financial year. ActionSA said the latest development reaffirms its long-standing position that the electricity surcharges are unjust, anti-poor, and were imposed without proper public consultation. The party said that the halted surcharge in Ekurhuleni is similar to the R230 monthly fixed fee levied on prepaid electricity users in Johannesburg. "These fees disproportionately affect poor and working-class households who are already battling rising food prices, unemployment, and service failures." He further stated that ActionSA plans to write to the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to request public hearings on the implementation of fixed electricity charges across municipalities. He stressed that Gauteng residents deserve to be heard, not punished, adding that the violent protests in Tembisa were both unfortunate and could have been avoided with proper public engagement. "Leadership should never wait for protest before acting; it should act on principle and in defence of the people." Ngubeni stressed that the ANC-EFF coalition in Johannesburg must urgently scrap the fixed electricity surcharge, which has fuelled growing frustration among residents. In contrast, he pointed out that in Tshwane, under a coalition led by ActionSA, no such surcharge has been introduced, demonstrating that there are better, more people-centred alternatives. Earlier this week, Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa admitted that electricity prices have become unbearably high, placing a heavy burden on households who are now faced with the difficult choice between putting food on the table or keeping the lights on. The Democratic Alliance's Ekurhuleni caucus leader, Brandon Pretorius, said the DA firmly opposed the implementation of the surcharge from the outset, warning that it would place already struggling residents in a dire position, forcing them to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table. The DA also stated that they have written to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, urging the regulator to investigate what they described as flawed calculations in justifying the controversial surcharge figures. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has expressed their solidarity with the people of Tembisa who embarked on an electricity surcharge protest on Monday morning. The EFF has described this service charge as unreasonable because of widespread poverty and concerning unemployment figures in the region. The Star [email protected]
IOL News
6 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Joburg urged to scrap fixed electricity surcharge after Ekurhuleni decision
Protesters block roads in Tembisa with rocks as protest turns ugly over the newly implemented electricity tariffs by the City of Ekurhuleni. Image: Supplied/EMPD ActionSA has thrown down the gauntlet to the City of Joburg and all Gauteng municipalities, after the Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, suspended the controversial fixed electricity surcharge. Calling the Ekurhuleni decision a wake-up call to municipalities, the party's Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni, said: 'It is no longer acceptable to balance municipal budgets by squeezing the most vulnerable residents while protecting bloated expenditure and inefficiencies in city administrations.'' This comes in the wake of public outrage and violent protests in Tembisa, where police resorted to firing rubber bullets to disperse crowds. The unrest was sparked by the City of Ekurhuleni's implementation of new electricity tariffs, which came into effect on July 1 for the 2025/26 financial year. ActionSA said the latest development reaffirms its long-standing position that the electricity surcharges are unjust, anti-poor, and were imposed without proper public consultation. The party said that the halted surcharge in Ekurhuleni is similar to the R230 monthly fixed fee levied on prepaid electricity users in Johannesburg. "These fees disproportionately affect poor and working-class households who are already battling rising food prices, unemployment, and service failures." He further stated that ActionSA plans to write to the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to request public hearings on the implementation of fixed electricity charges across municipalities. He stressed that Gauteng residents deserve to be heard, not punished, adding that the violent protests in Tembisa were both unfortunate and could have been avoided with proper public engagement. "Leadership should never wait for protest before acting; it should act on principle and in defence of the people." Ngubeni stressed that the ANC-EFF coalition in Johannesburg must urgently scrap the fixed electricity surcharge, which has fuelled growing frustration among residents. In contrast, he pointed out that in Tshwane, under a coalition led by ActionSA, no such surcharge has been introduced, demonstrating that there are better, more people-centred alternatives. Earlier this week, Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa admitted that electricity prices have become unbearably high, placing a heavy burden on households who are now faced with the difficult choice between putting food on the table or keeping the lights on. The Democratic Alliance's Ekurhuleni caucus leader, Brandon Pretorius, said the DA firmly opposed the implementation of the surcharge from the outset, warning that it would place already struggling residents in a dire position, forcing them to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table. The DA also stated that they have written to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, urging the regulator to investigate what they described as flawed calculations in justifying the controversial surcharge figures. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has expressed their solidarity with the people of Tembisa who embarked on an electricity surcharge protest on Monday morning. The EFF has described this service charge as unreasonable because of widespread poverty and concerning unemployment figures in the region. The Star [email protected]
News24
6 days ago
- Business
- News24
Temporary surcharge suspension applies across Ekurhuleni, not just Thembisa
Tebogo Letsie The mayor has suspended the electricity surcharge following protests and backlash in Thembisa. The residents decry the high costs and lack of proper community engagement. The city is to review affordability measures, cost recovery and fairness. Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has announced the temporary suspension of a fixed R126 electricity charge following violent protests in Thembisa on Monday. The decision comes after residents expressed outrage over increased costs, which they say were introduced without proper consultation. Xhakaza confirmed that the suspension applied across the city, not just in Thembisa, and was intended to open space for further dialogue with communities. 'This is not a permanent scrapping,' Xhakaza said. We are creating a platform for engagement and to re-examine how the tariff structure affects those who are poor but do not qualify as indigent. Nkosindiphile Xhakaza The mayor acknowledged that the fixed charge, introduced earlier this year as part of the municipality's new tariff structure, had a real impact on household budgets already strained by the rising cost of living. The charge was meant to help Ekurhuleni recover costs and reinvest in infrastructure, but the backlash had shown that the process needed re-evaluation. Xhakaza admitted that although the city had conducted public consultations through Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meetings from April to May, the protests highlighted a disconnection between formal processes and public sentiment. 'We held the IDP meetings and budget address on 29 May. The new tariffs came into effect on 1 July, and there was an outcry,' he said. He added that petitions had started flowing in through ward councillors and that a meeting scheduled for Sunday had failed to defuse the tension. 'We underestimated the level of mobilisation and frustration, which unfortunately escalated into violence. We have to be sensitive to that.' A resident from Thembisa, who spoke during the protests, expressed deep frustration over the additional costs: 'The worst scenario is you buy R1 000 worth of electricity and Ekurhuleni takes R250 off the top. That's before VAT and other deductions. We weren't even consulted. It's not fair; we're paying for tests that aren't our concern.' The resident said the surcharge had been in effect for nearly two months and that many people in the township were already struggling to make ends meet. We asked why this was happening and didn't get a straight answer. Xhakaza acknowledged the concerns raised and said the city would look into broader affordability measures, including refining how indigent households were classified and supported. 'We must ask: How do we better structure the tariffs so that we are not punishing those who are just above the threshold but still poor?' He said any revised model would consider usage levels, business needs and infrastructure recovery, but would be informed by public input. 'We need a balanced model that is transparent and fair. We're not disputing the need for tariff income, but how we collect it matters.'
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Relief for residents as Ekurhuleni suspends fixed power tariff
City of Ekurhuleni executive mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has announced the immediate suspension of the city's controversial fixed electricity tariff charge following community concerns and recent protests in Thembisa. The R126 (including VAT) fixed charge, introduced for the 2025/2026 financial year in line with National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) directives, was intended to support infrastructure maintenance and sustainable electricity supply. However, it sparked discontent among residents, leading to calls for its removal. READ: CoE corrects electricity tariff error, refund process in place Mayor Xhakaza confirmed that the suspension is pending urgent council endorsement and is intended to facilitate 'comprehensive, inclusive, and orderly engagement' with residents on the matter. The city has started preparations to implement the suspension within its billing system to ensure the immediate cessation of the fixed charge. The mayor emphasised the city's commitment to addressing legitimate community concerns while cautioning against violence and criminality during protests. 'The municipality remains fully committed to engaging robustly with residents regarding electricity tariffs and broader service delivery concerns; however, acts of violence, vandalism, and criminality will not be tolerated,' said Xhakaza. READ: 'Tired of empty promises': Residents protest over tariff hikes Avoiding another 2022 Thembisa scenario Xhakaza acknowledged the 2022 violent unrest in Thembisa, which led to significant financial losses, damage to infrastructure, and the tragic loss of life, noting that while many grievances were legitimate, the events were overshadowed by criminal activity. The suspension aims to prevent a repeat of such incidents while allowing structured discussions to address residents' concerns. Social relief measures rolled out In addition to suspending the fixed charge, the City of Ekurhuleni has rolled out a series of social relief measures in alignment with the commitments made during the 2025 State of the City Address. These include: Revised property value thresholds to enable more vulnerable households to access municipal support. A Debt Rehabilitation Scheme offering debt write-offs for qualifying over-indebted residents. Expanded indigent support to broaden access to free basic services for more residents in financial distress. Waivers of service connection charges for residents affected by cable theft. A three-month tampering charges waiver (July to September 2025) to allow residents to regularise municipal connections without penalties. READ: Thembisa residents reject new electricity tariffs, demand action 'These interventions reflect our commitment to social justice, equitable service delivery, and meaningful support for our residents, particularly those most impacted by prevailing economic conditions,' Xhakaza said. Call for calm and participation The city has called on residents to remain calm and to engage peacefully during the upcoming consultations, reaffirming its commitment to transparent and accountable leadership while working towards a fair and sustainable solution for all residents of Ekurhuleni. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
EFF backs Tembisa residents in protest against electricity surcharge
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has expressed their solidarity with the people of Tembisa who embarked on an electricity surcharge protest on Monday morning. The EFF has described this service charge as unreasonable, as it places an additional strain on the everyday residents of Ekurhuleni, who are already facing significant challenges due to widespread poverty and concerning unemployment figures in the region. The Metro had implemented a R126 electricity fixed surcharge, which the Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, subsequently temporarily suspended after the protest during an address with the community. However, the red berets said this was not enough, they want the permanent removal of this expense, which they term as exploitative. The EFF further said Xhakaza's utterances are ineffective as he does not have the powers to make such pronouncements without consulting the legislature. This charge followed the 12.74% national electricity tariff increase approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), which came into effect on April 1, 2025 This contentious surcharge follows an alarming 12.74% increase in national electricity tariffs approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), which took effect on April 1, 2025. The increase is part of Nersa's multi-year revenue determination plan, which includes further hikes of 5.36% in the 2026–2027 financial year and 6.19% in 2027–2028. Nersa justified this increase as part of a multi-year revenue determination strategy aimed at stabilising the country's failing energy supply while attempting to remedy Eskom's challenging financial predicament, marred by aging infrastructure and ongoing load-shedding incidents. Nersa said it aims to stabilise the country's energy supply and support Eskom's deteriorating financial position, which has been hampered by aging infrastructure, delayed maintenance, and continued load-shedding.
