WHATEVER happens, the R200 electricity bill surcharge must be scrapped.
These follows the public outcry by Johannnesburg residents, as a result of political battle for the City.
And leading the pack is the Democratic Alliance, that recently launched a petition against the R200 bill surcharge imposed by the City of Johannesburg on prepaid electricity residents.
Thus far 8000 signatures have been garnered, but the aim is to reach 20 000.
“We believe that all residents of Johannesburg should be treated fairly – good governance is non-negotiable. We have therefore written to the MMC (Member of Mayoral Committee) Finance on (3 July), to urgently review or do away with this electricity tariff surcharge and provide clarity on the business surcharge and how it will be utilised to the benefit of residents,” read the petition.
But as expected Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, accuse the DA of hypocrisy and opportunism.
The Mayor also accused the DA, saying they’re sensationalising the electricity fee for political gain.
“The Democratic Alliance and its stooges are opportunistically sensationalising a sensitive matter that concerns us all. They are attempting to subvert Council decisions by arousing public sentiment under false pretences to gain political mileage,” he said.
Gwamanda pointed out that the surcharge is being implemented in DA-run councils across the country, including Cape Town and Tshwane.
“Any attempt to sabotage this critical intervention is an attempt to deliberately collapse the City’s infrastructure and to maintain the injustice of creating a two-tier tariff dispensation where post-paid customers pay and prepaid customers don’t,” he warned.
Should the 20 000-mark petition be signed, it means the City would have to revisit the R200 surcharge, of which it’s way too steep for residents, considering the tough economical times.
Image (Against it. CoJ under pressure to revisit the surcharge bill).
