18 June 2008
The announcement today by the National Energy Regulator that it has approved a further electricity hike of 13.3% has left the SACP much angrier and outraged by the continued onslaught on the living standards of the workers and the poor of our country, whilst capitalists continue to amass massive profits. Cumulatively, this increase means that we have, within a period of six months, increased our electricity tariffs by close to 30%.
What we find particularly objectionable is the collusion by government to allow such increases which it knows very well can no longer be absorbed by the poor of our country. This is unfortunately beginning to display a disturbingly reckless attitude by the current government towards the interests of the workers and the poor, with hardly any attempts to cushion our people from the astronomically rising standard of living, given the already high food and fuel prices. The neo-liberal policies of government are really coming home to roost!
The rise in electricity tariffs will worsen the misery of our people, thus further lowering their standard of living. The SACP is totally opposed to solutions that punish our people for problems they did not create.
Government and Eskom must take full responsibility for our current energy crisis. It remains our firmly held view that government must absorb these costs as it is their irresponsibility in the first place that led us to this situation.
A further suggestion that in the next coming years the tariffs will be increased by a further 20-25% is even more absurd. We will continue to take to the streets in partnership with our allies, including the COSATU mass actions in July and the national stay-away at the end of July, to raise our dissatisfaction about these attacks on the living standards of our people.
As the SACP we remain convinced that capitalism, its neo-liberal policies and the current growth path are incapable of creating a better life for all our people!
Issued by the SACP
For information
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson – 082 226 1802