eMalahleni – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has reminded Eskom of the more than R840 million wasted amid its bid to increase electricity tariffs by a whooping 40%.
The party used the Wilge residential development near Kusile outside eMmalahleni to remind the collapsing parastatal of its wasteful mismanagement.
The development including more than 320 units of flats, meant for Eskom employees’ accommodation, was abandoned in 2019 with an initial budget of R260 million, which is now sitting at more than R840 million.
In its StopPowerGrab campaign aimed at opposing Eskom’s proposed 40% electricity tariff increase, the DA visited the development on Monday, November 4, for inspection.
Kevin Mileham, Member of Parliament, told the paper what he witnessed was enough to send shivers down the spine.
“The building is completely abandoned with no one living in it. Fittings and fixtures have been stolen, and the building integrity seems questionable. Tiles are falling off the roof, fences falling down and windows broken. It is really a sad state of affairs,” he said.
“What we are totally opposed is that Eskom is asking for a 40% tariff increase in electricity, and we are saying you [Eskom] have spent R840 million on this project and now you want this massive increase and there is nothing to show for that R840 million,” Mileham said.
The National Energy Regulatory South Africa (NERSA) has published Eskom’s application to increase the cost of electricity by an additional 36.15% next year.
To make it worse, Eskom has been given a green light to overcharge consumers next year, to recover revenue shortfalls from this year. NERSA has already approved a 4% increase to enable Eskom to collect an extra R8 billion to make up for revenue losses.
This takes the total proposed hike to over 40%, if Eskom’s application for the additional increase over-and-above the 4% make-up tariff is approved.
“This is not right. We are calling on South Africans to make their voice heard. We are calling on them to sign the petition against Eskom’s tariff increase,” Mileham said.
He also called on the public to go to the NERSA public hearings starting on the 18th of November to spark against Eskom’s proposal. “Stand up and say enough is enough. We are not going to tolerate your wasteful mismanagement, corruption and inefficiency,” he concluded.
