Ekurhuleni Mayor suspends fixed electricity fee of R126 after violent Thembisa protest
Thembisa residents clashed with police over the high cost of electricity. Africa Melane interviews DA City of Ekurhuleni Caucus Leader Brandon Pretorius.
Thembisa residents protested over soaring electricity tariffs on 21 July 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
702 and CapeTalk’s Africa Melane speaks with Brandon Pretorius, the Democratic Alliance (DA) City of Ekurhuleni Caucus Leader.
Listen below:
Residents of Thembisa launched a protest over the R126 fixed monthly electricity fee.
They blocked main roads and disrupted traffic with burning tyres and huge rocks.
The protest turned violent with rubber bullets being fired by police, clashing with protestors.
As a result of the protests, Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has suspended the fixed monthly electricity fee of R126 for two weeks.
Pretorius says the mayor cannot unilaterally remove this fee, and a municipal council meeting must be called to permanently remove it.
RELATED: Tembisa protests over electricity tariff increases
He says that this cost has been built into the municipal budget and says service delivery will probably be affected by removing this charge.
“No matter what they cut, the cost will be hidden in some form, and we will see residents being shortchanged for it.”
- Brandon Pretorius, City of Ekurhuleni Caucus Leader - DA
Scroll up to the audio player for more.