MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Municipality has added its voice to an objection to the proposed 20.5% electricity tariff hike proposed by Eskom.
This follows a plea from Anton Bredell, Western Cape minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, that all municipalities in the Western Cape should object to Eskom's application to the National Energy Regulator (Nersa) to raise the cost of electricity.
Should this increase be accepted, local authorities will have to pass this increase on to end consumers. Bredell labelled the proposed increase as completely unaffordable in the current economic climate.
On 14 January, on his mayoral social media page, Mossel Bay executive mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé, posted a letter addressed to Nersa, stating that the municipality did not support the suggested increase. In the letter, Kotzé writes that the increase will put "unbearable financial strain on most households" and that it will "further constrain the local economy".
He further states that the municipality recommends a 5.5% increase, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
On enquiry from the Mossel Bay Advertiser, the municipality supplied a press release in which Kotzé urges residents to support the petitions against Eskom's request to increase the electricity price.
"Mossel Bay Municipality rejects Eskom's power utility application to hike the electricity price. I have approached the executive mayor of the Garden Route District Municipality to support the initiatives to have electricity prices addressed."
Kotzé says that for the fourth quarter of 2020, unemployment shot up to 32.5% nationally. Taking into account the increased unemployment rate, including discouraged job seekers, the rate is calculated at 42.6%.
"As with water, electricity is indispensable for development and economic growth. Without economic development, job creation is virtually impossible. Even with an increased tariff, Eskom still cannot guarantee electricity security.
"The Mossel Bay Municipality can guarantee water security with our seawater desalination plant, but the cost of electricity is already hampering local economic growth.
"The Department of Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning in the Western Cape recently announced a project to make six municipalities, Mossel Bay included, less dependent on Eskom for electricity."
In Mossel Bay, several ward councillors and activists are undertaking initiatives to circulate petitions against the proposed tariff increase.
"Residents are welcome to contact ward councillors or visit www.notoincreases.co.za to make your voice heard," Kotzé concludes.
Alderlady Venolea Fortuin explaining the action against the proposed electricity tariff hike to a resident of her ward. Photo: Johan Pienaar
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