The utility’s reasoning that you cannot compare the tariffs of municipalities that fall under different categories, has not gone down well with Mangaung Metro residents in Bloemfontein and surrounding areas. 

Centlec’s electricity tariffs have of late been compared to those of Mossel Bay Local Municipality in the Western Cape and Mahikeng Local Municipality in the North West, amongst others. It is shown that R1000 will get you 504 units in Mossel Bay as compared to between 297 and 388 units in Mangaung Metro, whereas R500 will get 356 units in Mahikeng and 198,2 units if you’re in Bloemfontein. 

Centlec spokesperson, Lele Mamatu, has criticised these comparisons, saying as per the Municipal Systems Act, Mangaung is a Category A municipality, whereas the other two are not, therefore tariffs are higher in the metro.

Furthermore, Centlec stresses the 14,59% hike in the price of electricity has been green-lit by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and is therefore above board. But these complaints aren’t unique to Mangaung metro. 

In Kimberley, residents of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality in the Northern Cape are threatening to boycott paying municipal rates, unless a favourable solution to exorbitant electricity rates is handed down within seven working days by the mayor, Patrick Mabilo. The ultimatum comes on the back of a peaceful picket that took place at the Sol Plaatje municipal offices on Wednesday, after which Mabilo promised to take the memorandum of demands handed to him by displeased residents to his mayoral committee for discussion before returning with feedback in the next seven working days.

Boyce Makodi from the United Sol Plaatje Community group, who was at the helm of the picket, says “the current rates are totally unbearable and we cannot afford these tariffs in a city that is falling apart. The municipality has to meet residents halfway by decreasing the prices to those equal to Eskom. Or let us purchase electricity directly from Eskom”. 

In addition to complaining about excessive electricity rates, residents accuse the municipality of being exploitative by blocking electricity meters from loading units when the accounts for other services, like water and sanitation, are in arrears.

OFM News