WATCH: SDCEA protests Eskom’s tariff hikes
In opposition to this, SDCEA led hundreds of residents, including several organisations, such as Ubunye Bama Hostela, Abahlali BaseMjondolo, as well as ratepayers from around Durban, to the City Hall where they handed over a memorandum to a representative of the Office of the Mayor.
The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) recently marched to the Durban City Hall, calling for a stop to the increased electricity tariffs.
They also called for improved service delivery. This march comes after the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved a 12, 7 percent tariff rise for Eskom’s direct consumers, beginning on the first of April, and for municipalities on the first of July.
In opposition to this, SDCEA led hundreds of residents, including several organisations, such as Ubunye Bama Hostela, Abahlali BaseMjondolo, as well as ratepayers from around Durban, to the City Hall where they handed over a memorandum to a representative of the Office of the Mayor.
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SDCEA’s co-ordinator, Desmond D’Sa said it was time for the government to listen to the solemn cries of the masses.
“The motto of SDCEA is ‘The Right To Know, The Duty To Inquire, The Obligation To Act’. Due to unaffordable, partially accessible electricity in the context of the climate crisis and the supposed emergence of Eskom’s ‘Just Energy Transition Partnership’, SDCEA held numerous workshops to discuss the irrational electricity tariff increases. We insist that a Just Energy Transition in South Africa includes all people from all areas and classes. These meetings took place from February through to May 2023 with communities, such as Ubunye Bama Hostela (UBH), residents of the Bluff, Wentworth, Merebank, Chatsworth, Umkomaas, Umhlatuzana, Craigieburn, Dennis Hurley, Abahlali BaseMjondolo, and some ratepayers of Durban in attendance. These discussions were crucial because many of Durban’s citizens for years on end have experienced no access to the proposed tariff developments, water, sanitation, and refuse. People have experienced rising bills, which they cannot afford, resulting in cut-offs on the electrical, water, sanitation, and refuse supply. This is a human rights issue that negatively impacts the lives of people and their families. People are currently experiencing the worst social and environmental impacts as a result of our government’s negligence and incompetence,” SDCEA said in its memorandum.
