The Democratic Alliance (DA) has launched a public petition against Eskom’s 40% tariff increase request, saying such an exorbitant increase would leave millions of households having to make the distressed choice between food and electricity.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) will decide whether to approve the request for a 40% electricity tariff increase set to take effect from April 1, 2025.

“Now, on the back of DA Mayors objecting to Nersa directly, the DA is ramping up with the fight against Eskom’s outrageous 40% tariff increase with a public petition, available to every South African who stands against this daylight power grab by Eskom,” said DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp.

On Tuesday, the caucus of DA local government mayors began a process of written objections to Nersa.

Aucamp pointed out that the petition acknowledged that at a time when South Africans are already facing a dire cost-of-living crisis, not many can afford to pay 40% more for electricity.

“What is extremely troubling with this increase is that Eskom has been allowed to retrospectively punish users with a make-up surcharge next year to recoup the shortfall in revenue it did not generate this year. An endless cycle of making up for under-collected revenue from a previous year cannot be allowed to transpire,” explained Aucamp.

The DA said it was going to wage a “full-blown battle” against Eskom's tariff hikes and the “unacceptable” process through which these hikes are determined.

Aucamp highlighted that since 2007, Eskom inflated electricity prices by a staggering 450%.

“Because demand for Eskom’s electricity is now shrinking, their audacity to introduce a make-up tariff must be unequivocally rejected, and we call on all electricity users in South Africa to stand up against it,” he said.

The DA has also tabled an urgent debate on the electricity prices in Parliament.

“We call on all South Africans to stand against this daylight robbery and power grab – we need your voice in this too. The DA calls on South Africa to sign our petition to stand against unaffordable 40% tariff hikes by Eskom,” said Aucamp.