SEDIBENG.– Sedibeng Ster has been reliably informed that during the latest council meeting, the Emfuleni Local Municipality’s (ELM) Council approved, in principle, a proposal allowing an application fee of approximately R2 400 to be charged when a resident applies to install solar panels and connect them to the power grid.

Residents will pay a monthly levy.

In addition, it is said, residents will have to pay a monthly levy of R463 to generate their own reliable electricity – a service that the municipality can no longer deliver.

Freedom Front Plus ELM Councillor, Gerda Senekal, told Sedibeng Ster that her party will do everything in its power to oppose the application fee and monthly levy on solar panels proposed by the ELM.

“The Freedom Front Plus sees this levy and application fee as nothing but a desperate attempt by Emfuleni to generate revenue, seeing as it is failing to provide sustainable electricity to paying residents.
This follows the municipality’s forfeiture of its revenue privilege due to poor financial management and Eskom being forced to enter into a distribution agreement with Emfuleni in 2023 to protect its interests,”
Senekal said.

Residents will have the opportunity to oppose this application fee.

Sedibeng Ster is awaiting a response from the ELM about the matter.

“Residents will have the opportunity to oppose this application fee and levy when the process is opened for public participation in the near future. Apart from making submissions during the public participation
process, voters can also cast their votes for the Freedom Front Plus on November 4 to elect an accountable administration for Emfuleni,” Senekal concluded.