AfriForum got a cost order against the Tshwane Metro in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 27 January 2020 regarding the illegal prepaid electricity tariff increases that were implemented in 2019. This cost order follows after AfriForum approached the High Court in 2019 about the increases that were implemented without the necessary approval from Nersa.
Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Greater Pretoria, says while the organisation views this as a success, the battle is far from over. “AfriForum took on this case to protect the residents of Pretoria against the illegal increases. Despite the cost order we are still dismayed about the fact that consumers’ money haven’t been refunded.”
Consumers paid the illegal tariff from July to mid-August 2019. After continuous pressure from AfriForum and meetings between the organisation and the Metro, the tariff was changed back to a tariff approved by Nersa.
During a management meeting, the Tshwane Metro promised AfriForum that it would pay back consumers who were affected by the increase – which hadn’t been approved by Nersa at the time. The money was supposed to be refunded in November.
“We will continue to put pressure on the Metro and Nersa until consumers are compensated for the illegal increase they had to pay.”
Nersa has subsequently acknowledged receipt of the letter sent to them by AfriForum on 16 January 2020, and informed the organisation that the issue is being discussed with their CEO.
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