It is believed that Eskom will later this year ask the National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to approve a further 40 percent increase in electricity rates.
Eskom chief executive Jacob Maroga told Parliament that Eskom was R9,7 billion in debt and was another R80 billion short for its R385 billion electricity-producing expansion programme. He said some of the debt was the result of buying emergency coal supplies through expensive five-year contracts and from trucking the coal over long distances to power stations.
But
Inflation is standing at 8,5% at the moment, Can it honestly propose an increase of triple the inflation rate, when consumers are facing current levels of financial hardship?
When employees ask for salary increment, the company says there is no money and is in debt but directors and managers are given three times than other employees. Eskom employees settled last month for a 10, 55 percent salary increase after a ruling by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration that averted a strike at the last minute. When it comes to the CEO earning so much money you don't hear the same argument about increases being in line with inflation. It is entirely inappropriate for (Eskom's) CEO to have his annual package increased to almost R5m.
This kind of increase is something that needs to be looked at very carefully. It is far more than the inflation rate and it is very questionable and very worrying."Tito Mboweni said a six percent rise in electricity tariffs would be reasonable and anything above that would stoke inflation.
Does Eskom consider high rate of unemployment in our country? Do it consider employees that earn less than R5 000 per annum? What about those who depend on government grant?
When is our people going to get what `s worth for their Job?
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SA is a very wealthy country, admistered by a handful of egotistic & greedy individuals, and majority of its citizens living in adverse poverty. Capitalism only considers what will be beneficial to the business, less about the people. Our government offer theunemployed RDP houses, later expects them to pay for services - how so? Why shouldpeople pay for the imcompetence of ESKOM? It was fore-warned butdidn't heed the call.
ReplyDeleteIf all those up there - in air conditioned offices, exquisite office furniture and designer Armani or Versace suits - can compromise a cut from their exorbitant salaries, some of this extreme increases to the already suffocating reesidents may be alleviated. When people want pay increases, they labasted as being unreasonable, inconsiderate, and perpetuating criminal acts; but when finacial powerhouses like ESKOM does, we should oblige without questioning.