Date set for planned Kimberley shutdown over electricity tariffs

THE KIMBERLEY Action Group (KAG) is planning a city-wide shutdown on July 14 in protest against unaffordable electricity prices.

A small group of about 30 people attended a community meeting at the Galeshewe circle on June 8, where residents were encouraged to mobilise more support for the cause.

One community member suggested that the shutdown should last between three to four days to intensify its impact, while others expressed a desire to purchase electricity directly from Eskom.

Boyce Makodi from the KAG said that in addition to the tariff increase, residents would be required to pay basic and capacity surcharges amounting to R271.05 before prepaid electricity could be loaded.

“From July 1, the first block will receive 26.8 units for R100, while residents who exceed 360 kilowatts per month will receive only 21.21 units for R100,” he explained.

“The country united and stood up against the 0.5 percent VAT increase, yet we are allowing a 9.6 percent electricity increase to go ahead.”

Makodi called for the disbanding of the Sol Plaatje Municipality council and stated that “nothing has changed” despite the appointment of a new mayor and Speaker.

“People who are unethical or corrupt must step down. We cannot wait until next year’s election because there will be nothing left of Sol Plaatje Municipality. We requested that the municipality establish a steering committee with advisers to hold officials accountable. Since February 14, we have not heard anything.”

He also urged that the shutdown remain free from political influence.

“A meeting scheduled for May 15 was postponed via an e-mail late on May 14. We decided to go anyway and were thrown out of the municipality by security like tsotsis. The shutdown will not be an isolated burning tyre — all roads will be closed,” he warned.

Millicent Wolfe, a member of the KAG, said residents were sending a clear message that they had "had enough".

“We cannot wait another 31 years to fix our town. Our town is dead while we stand by and watch. We cannot allow what is happening to us to continue. Where there is bondage, people are afraid.

“All these things are not being done because we are vindictive. It’s because we are gatvol (fed up) and standing up - residents simply cannot afford the high cost of electricity. We don’t need to live like this and should not be afraid to stand up,” she said.