Protest brings PE Nersa hearings to abrupt halt

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

The National Energy Regulator has cancelled the Port Elizabeth leg of its public hearings into Eskom's tariff application for a 16% a year tariff increase for the next three years.

This follows a vocal protest by members of the metal workers union Numsa who brought the hearing to a halt on Wednesday morning shortly after the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber began its presentation opposing the application.

Thembani Bukula, chairperson of Nersa's electricity sub-committee says they could not continue under the circumstances.

"We'll come back with a plan on how to continue with the hearings," he said.

In a later statement Nersa condemned the action by the union saying that it had not adhered to the conditions related to picketing at the venue.

Nersa said the conditions granted to Numsa for picketing included that it be "restricted to the entrance of the venue at demarcated area; no entrance or exit are allowed to be blocked and no interference with patrons to the hotel" where the hearing was held.

Meanwhile, Eastern Cape Local Government MEC, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, said Nersa should consider having meetings in community halls, churches and local stadiums to engage more people on the Eskom application.

"While we welcome the effort by NERSA to hold public hearings in all provinces, we think their plan should have been cognizant of the geographic layout of many provinces like the Eastern Cape by having at least two public hearings to cater for the people in the former Transkei part of the province and those across the other side," he said.

"The people in rural and township communities have a right to make their voices heard in the consultation processes about the Eskom application," Qoboshiyane said.

Agri East Cape, one of several organisations scheduled to make submissions to the venue said the Numsa protest highlighted the frustration of people towards Eskom's tariff application.

Spokesperson, Wayman Kritzinger, said the 16% tariff hike cannot be "simply" applied for the next five years. "Eskom said they would charge poorer people less for electricity but the impact on food production and costs will be so huge that it will not be helpful to people."

In rejecting the Eskom tariff application the Mandela Bay Business Chamber said it would have an "adverse economic impact to the continued survival of the manufacturing industry and commercial sector in this region."

"We will face a catastrophe based on the loss of jobs and a downward spiral in the Eastern Cape economy," said CEO, Kevin Hustler.