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.

The EFF said this charge came as a result of the municipality wanting to burden residents after its failure to draw a revenue enhancement strategy.

The protest extended into the busy hours of Monday morning, causing significant disruptions in service delivery and traffic. Demonstrators obstructed roads by using bricks and setting fire to tyres, among other methods. In response, law enforcement was called in to clear the area, resorting to the use of rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

IOL took to the streets to capture the sentiments of those affected. Lebogang Motloung, 33 from Temong said: “We are not going to fold our arms and let the municipality choke us with fees while we’re already struggling with other necessities.”

Meanwhile, Paul Dlamini, expressed deep concern: “Why do we have to be subjected to a life of struggle like this? We are struggling to make ends meet as is, we just hustle to get by and now these ones want to rob us, it won’t happen,” he said.

Independent Energy Analyst Tshepo Kgadima weighed in on the issue, stating, “The whole energy (Electricity) system in South Africa is incorrect, from the metering and everything else. South Africans, those who are paying for electricity are paying way too much, it is no surprise that they are constantly standup and take to the streets against it.”

IOL News

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