ActionSA rejects the unjustified new electricity service charges imposed on Johannesburg residents by City Power following a Council sitting where ActionSA was outvoted, leading to the adoption of these senseless charges in April 2024.
Despite our efforts to put the interests of all residents first, particularly those from low-income households, political parties including the ANC, EFF, PA, Al-Jamah-ah, AIC, AHC, APC, ATM, Cope, and Good supported the imposition of a fixed monthly service charge of R200 on residents.
ActionSA maintains our objection to the unjustified service charges, particularly because we acknowledge the plight of residents, especially those languishing in poverty or just about managing to make ends meet, who simply cannot bear the extra burden imposed by the governing chaos coalition.
Therefore, ActionSA will return to the next Council sitting with the sole aim of rescinding this decision and sending City Power back to the drawing board to explore other available means to collect its revenue.
We strongly believe that while City Power must recover its revenue from defaulting residents, the same approach should be applied to certain Provincial Departments that have defaulted on their payments in the past, including the Departments of Education, Health, Housing, Infrastructure Development, and Transport. We also continue to call for the disconnection of hijacked buildings from the City Power grid.
ActionSA urges the residents of the City of Johannesburg to continue voicing their concerns and ensuring their objections are heard by signing our petition before the next Council sitting.
ActionSA will continue to explore all available mechanisms to bring an end to this and will hold the governing chaos coalition accountable. In the same breath, as we approach the 2026 Local Government Elections, residents must also remember the disastrous and uncaring tenure of the above-mentioned parties, who continuously failed to prioritise their interests.
Issued by ActionSA COJ Caucus Leader Nobuhle Mthembu