South Africans Called to Participate in Electricity Bill Hearings

JOHANNESBURG – Mr. Sahlulele Luzipo, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, has issued a call to action for South African citizens to actively engage in the parliamentary public participation process concerning the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill.

According to Parliament of South Africa, Luzipo’s call comes amid the ongoing nationwide consultation aimed at garnering public input on the proposed legislation. This invitation follows a series of public grievances from residents within the Mogale Local Municipality, who expressed their rejection of the Bill. The rejection was largely due to a lack of prior information or education about the Bill’s content, with several residents stating they had seen the document for the first time just before the committee’s hearings in their municipality.

During the recent hearings in Mogale, Mr. Luzipo acknowledged the residents’ concerns and cited the case of one individual who attended a scarcely populated workshop on the Bill, implying a need for better community outreach and education. This resident’s experience underscored his encouragement for others to seek assistance from their councilor and municipal officials to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Bill, ensuring their feedback is well-informed.

Many of those opposing the Bill linked their dissatisfaction to an unresolved dispute with Eskom, the national electricity provider, over a damaged transformer that left many, including elderly residents, without power for a prolonged period. Before considering support for the Bill, they are requesting that the utility company address the existing infrastructure issue.

Mr. Luzipo, while empathetic to the residents’ plight regarding Eskom, clarified that the committee’s role does not extend to oversight of the service provider and thus would not be addressing issues directly related to the company’s operations. Instead, he encouraged the community to focus on how the Amendment Bill could be shaped to support the poor and vulnerable.

The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill proposes changes to the Electricity Regulation Act of 2006 to enhance administrative procedures, introduce additional electricity capacity and infrastructure, and establish a more competitive electricity market through the Transmission System Operator SOC Ltd.

The committee is scheduled to continue its series of public hearings at the Pimville Community Centre in Soweto. All interested parties are invited to provide their insights and opinions on the Bill between 10:00 and 14:00.