Group protests Eskom hike at hearing
2013-01-30 12:30
Video
2013-01-16 08:57
Eskom is asking the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to approve a 16% tariff increase each year, for the next five years. Watch.WATCH
Johannesburg - People are protesting outside the Gallagher
Convention Centre in Midrand, where Nersa is holding public hearings on Eskom's
proposed tariff hike on Wednesday.
Around 100 people, many dressed in red T-shirts, carried placards and
blocked the gate to the premises.
Some of the placards read: "Eskom's application equals job losses and
inflation" and "Link electricity tariff increases to inflation".
Two men wrapped in plastic, with electric cables around their necks,
sprawled on the ground. Above their heads were cardboard tombstones with the
words: "RIP Eskom, you are killing us".
Basic right
Several elderly people were among the protesters. One of the protesters
shouted that Eskom was denying them their basic right to electricity.
Besides the proposed electricity hike, the group said they were against
nuclear energy. According to one placard this was a "Nuclear
Fukushima".
Eskom had applied to Nersa for an electricity price increase of 16% every
year for the next five years. This would more than double the price of
electricity over five years, taking it from 61cents as kWh in 2012/13, to 128
cents a kWh in 2017/18.
Earlier, Eskom's finance director Paul O'Flaherty told the hearing it needed
the increase to maintain revenue and cover operating costs, among other things.
He said if Eskom merely minimised operating costs, as had been suggested,
the servicing of machinery would be neglected and there would have to be
massive staff reductions.
The Nersa hearings, chaired by Thembani Bukula, are being held to gather
views on Eskom's multi-year price determination (MYPD3) application.
- SAPA
