PRESS RELEASE: SOUTH DURBAN COMMUNITY PICKET AND MOBILISES THE COMMUNITIES AGAINST ESKOM

The SDCEA and its affiliates are hosting several public meetings to bring to the attention of the public that ESKOM has made application to the National Energy Regulator South Africa to increase its ELECTRICITY TARIFF’S BY 35% for 2010 /2011 to 2012. Eskom is South Africa’s biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, and wants to continue increasing their emissions by expanding their coal fired power stations.

The SDCEA has decided that the public is unaware of the public hearings been conducted on the 18TH January 2010 from 09.00am until 15.00pm by the National Energy Regulator at the International Convention Centre [ICC] Durban, as the advertisement was advertised in December 2009 when several of the communities were either on holiday or too busy shopping for the festive season. The SDCEA and its affiliates registered to present verbal submissions to NERSA opposing the increases. The SDCEA by hosting public meetings is giving the public an opportunity to provide input into the submissions that will be made on the day.

In addition the SDCEA has made formal arrangements to picket at the hearing and demonstrate the communities outrage with ESKOM.

All communities that will be affected will unite and stand as one against this proposed increase by ESKOM .This picket by the communities of South Durban and Durban will put pressure on the National Energy Regulator of South Africa not to allow this increase of both emissions and tariffs through.

The public meetings will held at the following venues:

* Tuesday 12th January 2010-600pm –Isipingo Lotus Park Community Hall. Contact person Mr Nowbuth –0826131886
* Wednesday 13th January 2010-6.30pm –Austerville Civic Centre –contact Patrick Mkhize 031-3012557/ 0835550023
* Thursday 14th January 2010 –630.pm Clairwood YAS Education Centre –contact Rishi Singh cell 0825533907

Agenda for public meetings are:

* ESKOM’s proposed Tariff increase of 35%

o ESKOM’s increase of greenhouse gas emissions
o The general state of electricity provided in our community

It is ‘Now or Never.

Submitted by the SDCEA

All are welcome and are encouraged to attend.

SDCEA Office—031-4611991/4689069 Desmond cell 0839826939

Email: sdcea3@mail.ngo.za