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Members of the public attending public hearings at the Khethani Community Hall in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) had mixed views on the Electricity Regulations Amendment (ERA) Bill. The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy was hosting the public hearings on the proposed amendments in Khethani in the uThukela District Municipality. These were the second of four public hearings on the Bill in KZN.
 
On the one hand, those who supported the Bill at the public hearings believe the proposed legislation will go some way in solving their current electricity problems. Those who reject it, on the other hand, believe that the proposed unbundling of Eskom will lead, inadvertently, to privatisation of a public resource they say is currently owned by all.
 
Those who argued in support of the Bill said it will enable competition within the electricity market and augment generation capacity. They also called for local municipalities to be allowed to produce their own energy, supervised by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.
 
Meanwhile, farm residents called for the Bill to make provision for them to have direct access to electricity as they currently depend on farm owners for their electricity needs. Farm residents welcomed the opportunity to express their views on the Bill and expressed their hope that it will address their plight.
 
Participants who did not support the Bill called for Eskom’s unbundling to be reviewed. One reason they gave for this call is that they are unsure if adequate research has been done on the implications of the move. They pointed out that such an important decision should not be taken lightly and if various functions are separated, this has the potential of allowing the separate entities to blame one another when problems arise, thereby avoiding accountability.
 
They argued that, in their opinion, Eskom’s problems arise from poor management, regulation and control, not the fact that the various operations take place under one roof.
 
Portfolio committee Chairperson Mr Sahlulele Luzipo thanked the residents for their submissions on the Bill and for taking an interest in Parliament’s work. He told the residents that those who wish to submit written inputs can email their submissions to aboss@parliament.gov.za by no later than 30 November 2023.
 
“We have noted all your valuable views and concerns which were talking to the Bill and we will take them into consideration as we finalise the Bill,” he said.
 
Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Sahlulele Luzipo.