EDITORIAL | Sadly we have a reactive government instead of proactive one
The electricity tariff hike and Ramaphosa’s response were not well thought out
Earlier this month Business Times (https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/business/2023-01-15-nersa-tariff-hike-absurd/) reported on economists and business lobby groups describing the 18.5% electricity tariff hike approved by the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) as absurd. “It is the absurd result of a state insisting on being energy producer through Eskom, determining prices through Nersa and hamstringing private energy production at every possible corner,” Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux told the publication. But even more absurd is President Cyril Ramaphosa this weekend asking Eskom to temporarily suspend the implementation of the increase set for April 1. Eskom gave its tariff hike submission to Nersa back in September. It boggles the mind that it has only now, almost five months and many load-shedding hours later, occurred to Ramaphosa to try to step in...
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