AfriForum requests NERSA for the last time to withdraw AbaQulusi’s license for the distribution of electricity

AfriForum’s branch in Vryheid asked the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) for the last time to withdraw the AbaQulusi Local Municipality’s license for the distribution of electricity. This follows after NERSA audited this municipality in October 2023 on a previous request from AfriForum.

During NERSA’s visit, members of the AbaQulusi municipality requested NERSA not to withdraw the license for the distribution of electricity and several promises were made to start with maintenance. Similar promises were also made by this municipality to NERSA in 2019.

“Since the audit in October 2023, there have been two or three meetings during which promises were made again. However, there is still no improvement in the distribution of electricity and the electricity supply in Vryheid has now assumed catastrophic proportions. Our remedies have been exhausted and AfriForum has no other choice but to force NERSA to review the municipality’s license,” says André van der Walt, AfriForum’s Chairperson for the Vryheid branch.

“Poor service delivery and specific electrical distribution have a tremendous negative effect on the economy, therefore these standard services can no longer be entrusted to the government,” says Eugene van Aswegen, AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator for KwaZulu-Natal.

AfriForum will continue to approach the court to put pressure on the authorities to review this license.