After violent protests, Ekurhuleni Mayor Xhakaza temporarily suspends fixed electricity charge
Xhakaza made the announcement to an angry crowd of Thembisa residents, who met his address with jeers and boos.
The move follows a day of violent unrest, with hundreds of people taking to the streets to protest soaring power tariffs.
ALSO READ:
• At least a dozen Tembisa residents injured in running battles with Ekurhuleni police
• Two police vehicles damaged during Tembisa protest
Police fired rubber bullets to clear blockades, while residents retaliated by damaging vehicles, torching tyres and hurling stones.
The R126 fixed charge will be put on hold until the city returns with a more permanent answer in 14 days.
The day began with flames, rubber bullets and rocks, as residents blocked roads and police responded with force, leaving at least a dozen people injured.
By midday, the crowd shifted to the Rabasotho Community Hall, waiting for Mayor Xhakaza to explain the way forward.
When he finally arrived, the welcome was hostile, but the hundreds of residents present still listened as he announced a concession.
The R126 fixed electricity charge, which was at the heart of the unrest, would be suspended with immediate effect.
"So, we can go ahead and engage Eskom and NERSA so that this tariff structure can be understandable, but in the meantime, we will suspend the fixed charge temporarily of R126."
Xhakaza told residents the municipality would return in two weeks with a final plan, after further discussions with stakeholders.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
EFF Gauteng slams ANC for abuse of State resources after holding NEC meeting in Germiston
JOHANNESBURG – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has slammed the African National Congress (ANC) for its alleged abuse of State resources after the party held its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at a government facility in the City of Ekurhuleni. The ANC relocated its NEC meeting to the Germiston Civic Centre over the weekend due to several issues, including inadequate heating and ventilation at the original venue in the south of Johannesburg. It's understood that the party couldn't hold its NEC meeting at its usual spot at the Birchwood Hotel, in Boksburg, because of financial difficulties and outstanding payments to the venue. This situation has upset some opposition parties, who are questioning how the ANC was allowed to hold its event at a government building without incurring any costs. ALSO READ: Some ANC Ekurhuleni members want upcoming regional conference halted "This brazen abuse of municipal infrastructure illustrates the ANC's tendency to blur the lines between the State and the party, and to treat public property as its private quarters. It is an insult to the people of Gauteng and Ekurhuleni, in particular, that the ANC, embroiled in bankruptcy and unable to fund its own events, now exploits public facilities to conduct internal meetings, even at the expense of ordinary council operations,' said EFF Gauteng spokesperson Dumisani Baleni. He claims the EFF in Ekurhuleni was affected by the ANC's decision to hold its NEC meeting at a municipal facility. "As a result of this meeting, the EFF caucus in the city was compelled to postpone its induction programme because the ANC locked down the civic centre, deploying State resources and police to create an exclusive zone to save the fast-decaying former liberation movement from public embarrassment. These actions by the ANC are not only disgraceful, they also play a role in compromising service delivery to the people of Ekurhuleni.'
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Minister of Electricity admits current tariff system is unsustainable
Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted the detrimental effects of the rising electricity costs during a recent public address. Image: File The Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has conceded that the price of electricity is not sustainable and has ordered a review of the electricity tariffs. This comes as scores of electricity payers protested over soaring prices in Tembisa and elsewhere, while City Power has extended the registration of poor households for exemption. Ahead of the ANC NEC meeting at various venues in Gauteng, Ramokgopa revealed that South Africa is on the brink of 'energy poverty' as the current cost of electricity is unsustainable, adding that South Africans can expect big changes to prices in the coming months. "Electricity is unaffordable. We cannot continue along this tariff path. We are getting into a situation here in the country with new dimensions of energy poverty. There are households there, as I speak to you, that will not be able to afford the cost of households are being forced to make choices between a loaf of bread and buying prepaid electricity units," he stated. Energy expert, Professor Vally Padayachee, reflecting on the soaring prices of electricity, indicated that the rising cost of electricity is concerning as it impacts not only household budgets but also the overall economy. "Increases of over approximately 600% in recent years are unsustainable and disproportionate to many citizens' income levels. Electricity, a public good, should arguably be like water, a fundamental right, accessible and affordable for all South Africans. "For the average South African household, rising electricity costs have become a serious financial concern. Many families find themselves allocating a growing portion of their income to energy bills, which can lead to difficult choices between essential services such as food, education, and healthcare. This financial strain can cause stress and adversely affect family life," he stated. To curb the effects of energy poverty, Vally stated: "The rising costs of electricity calls for urgent structural reforms to the energy pricing model in South Africa. Policymakers must explore ways to stabilise prices for households and reduce the burden on vulnerable populations. There must be a concerted effort towards transitioning to a sustainable energy future that emphasises renewable energy sources. "By investing in sustainable energy technologies, the government can work towards reducing reliance on expensive fossil fuels, ultimately lowering electricity costs over the long term." Taking to X, former Eskom COO, Matshela Koko, lamented the rising costs of electricity in spite of a promise that IPPs (independent power producers) would help reduce energy prices. "Eskom's electricity sales have plummeted from 220 TWh to 180 TWh over the past decade, yet electricity costs have skyrocketed by 600%. Here's the truth: wind, solar, and battery storage won't lower the electricity prices you see on your electricity bills. It is irrespective of the near-zero marginal cost of production of wind and solar projects." Meanwhile, City Power has confirmed that it has successfully registered 10,000 qualifying customers for the Free Basic Electricity (FBE). The power utility has also extended the registration period to 31 December 2025, to allow more qualifying residents of the City of Johannesburg to benefit from the programme. "This extension is in response to a growing demand and the need to ensure that no eligible resident is left behind as we target to register a total of 130,000 people for free monthly basic electricity. Importantly, the programme has now been expanded to also accommodate households in informal settlements and areas that fall under Eskom's electricity supply network," said City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena. City Power's statement comes after the residents of Tembisa forced Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, to reconsider the R126 electricity fixed surcharge against Ekurhuleni residents who took to the streets two weeks ago over skyrocketing electricity prices. Mangena indicated that this will ensure that more of Johannesburg's most vulnerable communities can benefit from this critical initiative. The FBE programme offers 50kWh of free electricity monthly to qualifying indigent households and exempts registered beneficiaries from the R200 monthly fixed charge, which consists of a R70 service fee and R130 network capacity charge.
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Book review- A new era for State-Owned Enterprises: Dr Nimrod Mbele's blueprint for change
Dr Nimrod Mbele agues that affirmative action take South Africa back in his new book Reimagining State-Owned Enterprises For Africa and Beyond Image: supplied In a landscape riddled with governance failures, Reimagined SOEs in Africa and Beyond emerges not from frustration, but from a profound sense of hope. Author Dr Nimrod Mbele, whose journey from the township of Thokoza profoundly shapes his perspective, presents a powerful diagnostic and blueprint for transforming State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) across Africa. His inspiration is deeply rooted in a decade of firsthand observation—engaging with boardrooms, public institutions, and media, all while witnessing the persistent governance failures plaguing SOEs. Yet, this experience didn't lead to despair. Instead, it ignited a conviction that reform is possible if governance is reframed "not as compliance, but as a leadership system rooted in public value." 'South Africa must shift from leader-centric to leadership-centric systems - where performance is not dependent on individual personalities but institutionalised within strong, accountable structures. 'This requires reinforcing board independence, implementing merit-based appointments, instituting clear performance compacts, and establishing a capable and credible State Holding Company to ensure strategic coherence and protect SOEs from political interference,' Mbele said. This central message, to "go beyond governance" toward institutional integrity, developmental purpose, and democratic accountability, is the driving force behind the book. 'Moreover, strategic SOEs like Eskom, SAA, and Transnet should operate on a commercial basis, with clearly defined mandates. 'Their profits should be reinvested into the national fiscus to support essential social objectives such as education, healthcare and social security. 'Persisting with outdated ideological approaches only entrenches inefficiency and deepens the financial reliance of SOEs on the fiscus, an unsustainable model, especially in a context where the economy has grown at less than 2% over the past decade. Reimagining SOEs is, therefore, not only about governance reform but also about restoring both public trust and institutional capability,' Mbele said. His Thokoza upbringing, marked by systemic challenges like under-resourced schools and weak service delivery, provides a critical lens. Mbele witnessed how dysfunctional institutions deepen inequality and erode hope, fueling his belief that reform transcends mere policy or structure. 'My journey from Thokoza, a township shaped by struggle and resilience, to becoming a thought leader in governance profoundly informs my perspective on institutional reform. Growing up amidst systemic challenges - under-resourced schools, weak service delivery, and socio-economic hardships. 'I witnessed firsthand how dysfunctional institutions deepen inequality and erode hope. This lived experience fuels my conviction that reform is not just about policy or structure, but about restoring trust, dignity, and accountability in public institutions. Institutional reform must be people-centered, prioritising transparency, ethical leadership and inclusive participation to break cycles of exclusion,' he said. For him, it's about "restoring trust, dignity, and accountability in public institutions." This lived experience, coupled with insights from consulting, academia, and broadcasting, culminates in a strategic agenda for renewal that bridges personal narrative, rigorous research, and public dialogue. Mbele's advocacy for "governance that is accessible and responsive" underscores his commitment to ensuring institutions serve all citizens, especially those from historically marginalised communities. This empathetic approach, combined with a demand for technical excellence, forms the bedrock of his vision for sustainable SOE reform. The book is, at its core, a testament to the author's unwavering conviction that African SOEs can and must be instruments of transformation, not political patronage. [email protected]
