Free basic electricity problems in South Africa

Hanno Labuschagne

Hanno Labuschagne

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Free basic electricity problems in South Africa

Government's free basic electricity (FBE) programme has failed to provide financial relief to poor South Africans, according to environmental researcher Dr Neil Overy and EarthLife Africa Johannesburg programs manager Thabo Sibeko.

In a recent Sunday Times article, the pair pointed out that the FBE programme had two key problems.
 
They explained that households who qualify for FBE only receive 50kWh of free electricity in a month, an amount which was set all the way back in 2003.

This is far below the current consumption levels, with smaller households typically consuming between 300kWh and 400kWh in a month.
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Oh **** off man.

If you're consuming that amount of electricity per month you are NOT indigent by any means.

Also, it's called Free BASIC Electricity because this was deemed enough to run the basics and everything else on top of that the consumer should pay for.

Why the hell should they get ALL of their usage covered? Who is going to pay for it to be 7x higher than the current allocation?
 
In Ekurhuleni it doesn't matter, it's part of your tariff and was even 100kWh at some point. If we subtract that from the total figure almost nobody else is getting it.
 
No one in their right mind finances someone else willingly, the poor will either pay or go without because the people of means will find ways to circumvent the oppressive laws. and rightly so.
 
Iwojima said:
Oh **** off man.

If you're consuming that amount of electricity per month you are NOT indigent by any means.

Also, it's called Free BASIC Electricity because this was deemed enough to run the basics and everything else on top of that the consumer should pay for.

Why the hell should they get ALL of their usage covered? Who is going to pay for it to be 7x higher than the current allocation?
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City Power now wants to now also do SSEG, but not for the good of the grid nooooo, so users need to switch to post paid and a new meter.
 
I remember the days of free basic electricity. 50 units free per month, then they took it away quite a number of years already.

I also remember free water.
 
Bliksis said:
I remember the days of free basic electricity. 50 units free per month, then they took it away quite a number of years already.

I also remember free water.
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We still get free water in the city of Joburg, last time I paid for water was when I was still carrying all the free loaders in the complex on my shoulders before they installed separate water meters.
 
TheChamp said:
Because everyone who deserves it gets it, even white people, why shoukd everything be turned into a white victimhood story?
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Not quite. In Ekurhuleni everyone on the IBT gets it, also free 5kl water if your property is valued at less than R750k. In some munis you have to apply and substantiate your situation. In others it's automatically designated for certain areas while some have extra hassle and this is where the discrimination comes in.
 
Swa said:
Not quite. In Ekurhuleni everyone on the IBT gets it, also free 5kl water if your property is valued at less than R750k. In some munis you have to apply and substantiate your situation. In others it's automatically designated for certain areas while some have extra hassle and this is where the discrimination comes in.
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What kind of discrimination is that, racial discrimination?
 
TheChamp said:
What kind of discrimination is that, racial discrimination?
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It is racial when you automatically assume that certain areas are predominantly black and so "need" it.
 
Swa said:
It is racial when you automatically assume that certain areas are predominantly black and so "need" it.
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One would think the government assumed they are poor because they look predominantly poor, not predominantly black, there are plenty predominantly black areas who do not get this by default. Yes, it was a flawed way of going about hence it has been withdrawn in a number of areas and people have to apply individually.

Do you think those white squatter camps are not afforded the same courtesy of assuming them to be poor since they look poor?
 
TheChamp said:
One would think the government assumed they are poor because they look predominantly poor, not predominantly black, there are plenty predominantly black areas who do not get this by default. Yes, it was a flawed way of going about hence it has been withdrawn in a number of areas and people have to apply individually.

Do you think those white squatter camps are not afforded the same privilege?
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Squatter camps by definition aren't metered. Rather look at builtup areas or townships. Not aware of any predominantly poor white areas that have automatically gotten it for free, apart from munis where it's not based on status. The ANC has a habit of favouring black people and areas because that's where their vote came from.

Hey I'm all for FBE and increasing it to 200. I'm even for FBW and a basic allowance. But it should be for everyone and not a select few as that only ends up being abused. Those who don't need it are the ones subsidising it in any case so it's not like they get anything for free.
 
TheChamp said:
Because everyone who deserves it gets it, even white people, why shoukd everything be turned into a white victimhood story?
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No one 'deserves' free anything.. Sounds a lot like George Orwell animal farm or 1984 where some animals are more important than others.. Stop stealing and bring the price down so all can afford good cheap abundant electricity and water and communications and roads without holes in them right now.
 
Deandbn said:
No one 'deserves' free anything.. Sounds a lot like George Orwell animal farm or 1984 where some animals are more important than others.. Stop stealing and bring the price down so all can afford good cheap abundant electricity and water and communications and roads without holes in them right now.
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Maybe not deserve but there will always be people that need even if you make it 1c.
 
Bit of a necro, but didn't want to start a new thread.

For the past two months I've been getting FBE tokens when purchasing electricity through the FNB app (Eskom Direct, Cape Town). I've never applied for this and shouldn't qualify for it.

Anyone else been seeing this? I'd much rather have this go to some household that actually needs it but it's tied to my meter number.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Bit of a necro, but didn't want to start a new thread.

For the past two months I've been getting FBE tokens when purchasing electricity through the FNB app (Eskom Direct, Cape Town). I've never applied for this and shouldn't qualify for it.

Anyone else been seeing this? I'd much rather have this go to some household that actually needs it but it's tied to my meter number.
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Muni? Ekurhuleni is or used to be for everyone on a certain tariff and I think that's how it should be. As for needing it it's not a case of you or someone else.
 
Hanno Labuschagne said:
Free basic electricity problems in South Africa

They explained that households who qualify for FBE only receive 50kWh of free electricity in a month, an amount which was set all the way back in 2003.
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I'm sorry but how is it relevant that it was set all the way back in 2003? In fact back in 2003 we still used incandescent bulbs and CCFLs. Now most of the lights are LED based, ergo the consumption is less. And in fact other appliances may be a bit more energy efficient eg if people use an induction cooker. Fewer people watch TVs, especially those old CRT ones which drew a lot of power. Now people watch stuff on their smartphones which need very little power.

But that 50kWh was set in 2003 would be a positive. It's not as though electricity use increases as the decades fly by. It's not as though R50 worth of power was set in 2003 and we still give them R50 worth of power. The free amount has kept up with inflation and all increases. It's 50kWh worth of energy.
 
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