The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) shares in Ekurhuleni Metro residents’ anger about the Metro’s implementation of a fixed electricity charge, which will be phased in over the next five years.
The party already voted against it in July this year, during the 2025/26 budget process, and warned the Metro not to add to residents’ financial burden.
The Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, personally promised during a march in Tembisa in July, where residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the fixed charge, to scrap the electricity charge of R126 (including VAT).
At the time, the Freedom Front Plus warned the Mayor that he does not have the authority to take such a decision, and that the municipal council and NERSA first need to approve it.
Over the weekend, the Metro held two public participation meetings in Boksburg and KwaThema to gain residents’ input on the matter.
Residents who attended the meetings expressed their frustration, believing that the Council supports the fixed charge and is not listening to them.
According to the Metro’s cost-of-supply study and proposed plans, all households will now have to pay a fixed monthly fee, regardless of their electricity consumption.
This charge is in addition to the cost of electricity units. Even households that use minimal electricity will have to pay extra just to remain connected to the grid.
Small businesses with three-phase connections will have to shell out even more, which seriously jeopardises the local economy.
The Freedom Front Plus put the following questions to the Mayor:
- Why should residents pay a fixed monthly charge even when they use very little electricity?
- How does the Metro justify a charge that has the same severe impact on poor and frugal residents as on large consumers?
- Why should law-abiding residents cover the costs of poor management, cable theft and technical losses?
- Why are households effectively subsidising street and traffic lights instead of the Metro’s operational budget?
- Has the so-called cost-of-supply study been disclosed to the public, and if so, where can residents access it?
- If residents reject this proposal during public participation, will the Council and NERSA respect their decision and scrap the basic electricity charge?
The Freedom Front Plus urges residents to make their voices heard on the following key issues during public participation:
• The unfairness of implementing a fixed basic charge, irrespective of consumption.
• The heavy financial burden on families, the elderly, young households and small businesses.
• The lack of distinction between low and bulk consumers.
• Demand that the Metro focus on efficient management, and combating corruption and cable theft instead.
The basic charge is unfair and makes no provision for low consumers or poorer households that do not qualify as indigent.
Truth be told, it is a tax introduced through the back door that has nothing to do with improving service delivery.
During a councillor briefing session on 18 September 2025, the Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, confirmed that additional sessions and venues will be booked to give everyone an opportunity to participate in the process.
It was also confirmed that a virtual public participation session is scheduled for 30 September 2025. Further details will be announced once the Metro has issued the relevant notice.
The Freedom Front Plus will not allow the people’s voices to be silenced.
