The SA Local Government Association (SALGA) has warned that the recently approved electricity tariff increases might lead to illegal connections in different communities.

The National Energy Regulator (NERSA) has approved Eskom’s 12.74 % tariff increase for direct customers and 11.32% for municipalities.

The increase for direct customers will take effect on April 1, while the increase for municipal customers will be implemented on July 1.

SALGA’s Head of Energy and Electricity, Nhlanhla Ngidi, says struggling consumers might resort to illicit means to access power.

“Every time there are these increases, there are challenges that arise and those challenges some of them become more like vandalism that increases exponentially. People trying to connect themselves because they don’t have money now to actually pay for electricity. I’ve got a few examples where in various townships where people are actually now creating their own unsafe networks, connecting themselves illegally. That indicates a mix of the economic issues that we have in the country and it’s really now showing on the ground where municipalities are really struggling.”

[LISTEN] SALGA’s Head of Energy and Electricity, Nhlanhla Ngidi says as electricity tariff increases come into effect they see an increase in challenges

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PODCAST | SALGA’s Head of Energy and Electricity, Nhlanhla Ngidi’s full interview on First Take SA: