Anti-Eskom protesters occupy busy intersection in Weltevreden Park for collective call to end consumer abuse
Protest in response to incoming tariff hike and prolonged rolling blackouts.
Pushed to breaking point; the time to take a stand had come.
Facing fluctuating periods of darkness and an impending increase in electricity, angry residents flooded the center median of Henrik Potgieter Road near Albert Street, January 25. Free from political affiliations, yet targeting their angst at those who have their hands on the levers of power, protesters were supported by a choir of car-hooters as they collectively vented their frustration for roughly three hours.
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The protest was in response to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) approving an 18.65% tariff increase for 2023, as well as an additional 12.74% for April 2024. Compounded with load-shedding, South Africans are sick of paying inflated prices for diminishing services while stressing about the cascading effect on businesses, entrepreneurship and job creation.
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An example of one such business owner is Aladia Mohammed who started her catering business from her home with only a 2kg packet of chicken and no funding. Every cent of revenue has gone into growing her business with Aladia using all her home appliances to give her customers and menu to savour. As an entrepreneur and creator of jobs, she is pleading with President Ramaphosa to help small businesses, fearing she and others like her will not survive another month of load-shedding.
Ryno Viviers is another service provider who has juggled with having to absorb overheads or find ways to defer the costs. Personally, he sits in the same boat as his neighbours – losing food, time and money because of load-shedding.
“The knock-on effects are felt by everyone. The increases could be understandable if we were getting better services but the quality of service is getting worse,” lamented Ryno.
Among the youngest of the protesters, 19-year-olds Nicolle Haywood and Siann Cross mixed environmental awareness with their anti-Eskom and anti-load-shedding messaging. The pair encouraged residents to end their reliance on Eskom by going solar and through their banner, reminded the power utility that they ‘don’t own the sun’. This message being a reference to Eskom’s reported proposal to impose a levy on solar users.
The gradual worsening of the problem has many concerned; young and old.
“We don’t want the future generations to still be stuck with the same problems, or worse,” said Siann. Observing how they were the only ones their age taking to the streets to raise awareness, Nicole encouraged her peers not to be apathetic to the problems affecting their lives.
Siann added, “If they want a better future then they need to stand up and support sustainability.”
Taking their stand from 15:00, the numbers grew as the afternoon wore on with residents inspired to get to the intersection to join the chants. Even load-shedding made an appearance, condemning evening commuters to a bombardment of sensory reminders of the dire electrical silence awaiting them at home.
