DA says no to R100 pre-paid electricity surcharge

The R100 pre-paid electricity surcharge caught residents off guard.

Clive Hatch, chairman of the DA in eMalahleni is at the forefront of a petition to get the surcharge reviewed.

“The DA remains adamant that residents should not bear the brunt of Emalahleni Municipality’s inability to manage finances. We believe that all residents of eMalahleni should be treated fairly – good governance is non-negotiable,” Hatch said.

He added that the municipal manager, Sizwe Mayisela, and the council will be petitioned to review or eliminate the electricity tariff surcharge.

“Furthermore, we demand clarity on this surcharge and how it will be utilised for the benefit of residents.”

The municipality answered some questions about the surcharge:

Question: If I recharge enough for the month and the following month, will I be billed R200 for the third month when I recharge?

Answer: Yes, if you do not recharge in the following month, the R100 service fee will accumulate. When you next recharge, you will be billed for all unpaid months. For example, if you skip one month, your next recharge will include the R100 for the missed month plus the R100 for the current month, totalling R200.

Question: What happens if I do not recharge at all? Do I still need to pay the R100?

Answer: Yes, the R100 service fee is applied monthly, regardless of whether you recharge or not. The fee will accumulate and be deducted from your next recharge.

Question: Why has the municipality introduced this R100 service fee?

Answer: A basic charge of R100 service fee has been introduced for the use of the electricity network.

Question: Is this R100 service fee applicable to all prepaid customers?

Answer: Yes, this service fee is applicable to all prepaid domestic customers within the Emalahleni Local Municipality, except indigents.

Question: How will the service fee be deducted?

Answer: The R100 service fee will be deducted automatically from your prepaid purchase upon your next recharge.

Question: How can I check if the service fee has been deducted correctly?

Answer: You can check your recharge receipts to verify the deduction of the R100 service fee.

Question: Will this service fee affect my electricity usage?

Answer: The service fee is a separate charge and will not directly affect the amount of electricity you receive. However, you will need to ensure your recharge amount covers both the service fee on the first purchase of the month and the electricity you intend to use.

Question: Can the service fee be paid separately from the electricity recharge?

Answer: At this time, the service fee is designed to be deducted automatically from your prepaid balance during recharge. Separate payment options are not available.

For more information regarding this petition, you can contact Hatch at 082 601 9376.

Click on the following link to sign the petition: https://forms.gle/kvEqrD5ehFkMA1Ex6

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