Statement by Mr. E. Lucas, Chairman of the IFP Cape Town Caucus

The IFP has reacted strongly against the National Electricity Regulator's (NER) decision to approve the above-inflation price increases for electricity.

Mr. Lucas, the Chairman of the Cape Town IFP Caucus, has said: "Although the price increase of 5.1percent is not as much as the 6.6 percent proposed by Eskom, the NER can hardly expect the consumer to be satisfied with an above-inflation price increase especially taking into consideration all the recent power outages experienced in the Western Cape."

"Eskom reported a profit of 5.1 million Rand last year - where has that profit been used? It is obvious to us that there is a huge problem if you take into consideration the price increase and Eskom's inability to cope with the recent power outages."

Mr. Lucas concluded by saying: "The NER was put in place to protect the interest of the consumer. By the agreeing to the above-inflation price increase, it is obvious to the IFP that the consumer interest was the last thing taken into account".