Minister Ramokgopa promises to change unsustainable electricity prices

ELECTRICITY and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has promised big changes to electricity prices in the coming months in efforts to address what he described as unsustainable prices.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

Ahead of the ANC National Executive Committee meeting at various venues in Gauteng, he said: “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 electricity .. Poor households are being forced to make choices between a loaf of bread and buying prepaid electricity units.”

His remarks come after the residents of Tembisa forced Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza to reconsider the R126 electricity fixed surcharge against residents who took to the streets two weeks ago over skyrocketing electricity prices.