Some Gauteng residents say they don’t believe load shedding suspended for over 200 days

JOHANNESBURG - Some Gauteng residents said they don't believe that Eskom has kept the lights on for more than 200 days.

At a public consultation process on Tuesday, some customers said they had been experiencing prolonged power outages.

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They were speaking at a meeting where the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) held a public consultation to discuss Eskom’s 36% proposed tariff increase.

During their presentation, Eskom officials told residents the entity needed to generate more revenue if it was to prevent load shedding.

The power utility said that load shedding had been suspended for over 200 days. However, some parts of Gauteng have experienced load reduction.

Chairperson of the National Interfaith Council of South Africa Amyna Fakude said that whatever Eskom called it, it still resulted in people, especially from the townships, having no power.

She said that the tariff hike was unjustified.

"What are they trying to do? They are making sure these people die. They can't afford the food, they can't afford to cook the food they bought. If they bought food, they have got nothing to cook it with. If they buy electricity, they have no food to cook. No, man, this is so wrong."

NERSA’s public consultations continue on Wednesday at the Midrand Gallagher Convention Centre.