Joburg ActionSA won't support adjustment budget unless R200 electricity surcharge scrapped

JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA in Johannesburg says it will not support the city’s adjustment budget, unless the R200 electricity surcharge is scrapped.

The Joburg city council is meeting on Thursday, to table and vote for adoption of an adjustment budget.

This will be the second time the council meets to revise the city’s fiscal framework as the last meeting collapsed before the budget could be passed.

When ActionSA decided to establish a working relationship with the African National Congress (ANC) in 2024, the party put three conditions on the table.

The first was for the removal of Kabelo Gwamanda from the mayoral office, the second was to secure the position of speaker in the Johannesburg council, while the third was to scrap the city's controversial R200 electricity surcharge.

However, the third demand was never implemented and continues to be included in the city's budget for the current financial year.

READ: City Power board says scrapping R200 surcharge will have negative impact on its ability to supply power

ActionSA said because the African National Congress (ANC)-Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) coalition in Johannesburg refuses to remove the surcharge, it will not support the adoption of the adjustment budget.

The party’s national chairperson Michael Beaumont said the ANC had failed to fulfill its promise to abolish the R200 electricity surcharge.