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ELECTRICITY TARIFF SPARKS HIGH POWERED ANC ACTION

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The ANC in the Northern Cape has confirmed discussions with the Sol Plaatje Municipality concerning its proposed electricity tariff structure that has come under widespread condemnation from residents. The party’s secretary Deshi Ngxanga announced that a meeting has been held.

“The leadership has met with the administrative and political leadership of the municipality to understand the logic behind the proposed tariff increases. We will also be meeting with the representatives from the community on Thursday, 21 June 2018 as part of this consultative process.

“This consultative process must ensure that whatever consensus we arrive at should not compromise the financial sustainability of the municipality nor place an extra burden on our communities.”

The party also committed itself towards undertaking a position in having the issue amicably resolved and reaching finality.

“We will subsequent to these engagements be able to provide political leadership and guidance to our deployees at the municipality. The ANC would always act in the best interest of our communities in particular the working class,” added Ngxanga.

The municipality has come under severe attack from residents despite its efforts of explaining the basic charge of two hundred and sixty rand (R260.00) in newspaper advertorials by Mayor Mangaliso Matika. The anticipated tariff increment has been met with disgruntlement aired through social media, demonstrations and a string of community meetings aimed at mobilising for future protest actions when the perceived hike comes into effect in July 2018.

Galeshewe resident and energy activist Tumelo Mosikare informed NCNN.LIVE that he has presented the required information to the energy regulatory authority National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) into his claims of the Sol Plaatje Municipality overcharging residents on the cost of electricity.

Nersa held workshops in Kimberley earlier this month where residents blasted the municipality for overcharging them on the price of electricity which has now being compounded by the confusion surrounding the R260 levy, commonly referred to as being part of the “new tariff structure.”

On the other hand, Nersa has endorsed an increment of just under seven percent (6.84%) that the municipality is to implement in July this year, whilst the municipality will be charging less at under six percent.

By Thabo Mothibi

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Thabo Mothibi is a former broadcast journalist (TV and Radio) – with specialist reporting experience; SABC Political/Parliamentary and TRC Teams over a period of five years (1995 to 2000).

One key foreign assignment - is the 11-nation African Connection Rally – overland journey from Africa’s northern-most pole in the coastal Tunisian city of Bizerte to the southern-most pole in South Africa’s Cape Agulhas. From the journalistic years, Thabo then delved into Government media liaison and serving two former Ministers and three MECs. He became the Northern Cape Provincial Government’s first department based Communications Director at Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development - 2008-2010 – where he also served as Head of Ministry from 2003 – 2008.

As a former anti-apartheid activist, his political background and professional training aided him in spearheading the Northern Cape ANC’s 2004 National Elections media and publicity campaign and that of the 2006 Local Government Elections.

Whilst based in Waterkloof in Pretoria -2010 to end 2011, he consulted for Manstrat Agricultural Intelligence, then returned to the Northern Cape in 2012 to date, to consult independently and pursue other entrepreneurial interests in media and communications through KwaVuko Communications and Marketing.

Thabo Mothibi obtained his NQF7 through Wits University’s Graduate School of Public and Development Management (P&DM) in Johannesburg, a Unilever Mandela Rhodes Academy for Marketing and Communications Academy (UMRA). The goal of the NQF7 programme was to educate and train public and private sector professional communicators and marketers in government communications..