The ACDP has warned of a repeat of 2018 when the local community staged a city-wide shutdown in Kimberley in protest against high electricity prices.
THE ACDP has warned of a repeat of 2018 when the local community staged a city-wide shutdown in Kimberley in protest against high electricity prices.
From April 1, Sol Plaatje Municipality intends to disconnect the power supply of government departments, big businesses, and households who are in arrears totalling almost R1.5 billion.
As of December 31, the municipality owes Eskom over R434 million and there were warnings made that the city was at risk of bulk electricity power cuts if the situation does not improve.
ACDP councillor Roddy Loff said meetings would be held towards the end of the month to discuss the annual electricity tariff increases.
“We don’t agree with an increase in electricity tariffs but rather promote dealing with corruption and irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Utilities started their meetings on Thursday (yesterday) and we will have an indication on the proposed increases by next week,” said Loff.
He believed that any increase was a reflection of the inability of the leadership of Sol Plaatje Municipality to deal with the root cause of financial losses.
“The ACDP advocates for stricter financial controls. Why should loyal customers, hardworking ratepayers, the vulnerable and especially the poor be punished with unaffordable electricity tariffs?”
