AfriForum returns to court to demand refunds for unlawful electricity tariffs

AfriForum will appear in the High Court in Pretoria on Friday, 29 November, to push for over 100 municipalities to refund consumers for unlawful electricity tariffs implemented on 1 July.

This follows a recent Supreme Court of Appeal decision granting the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) leave to appeal a June High Court ruling that declared the tariff increases unlawful.

The appeal will be heard by a full bench of the High Court at a later date.

AfriForum, however, is invoking Section 18(3) of the Superior Courts Act to ensure the June judgment is enforced while the appeal process unfolds.

The civil rights group argues that millions of consumers are enduring irreparable harm from the continued application of these unlawful tariffs.

According to Section 18(3), courts may permit the implementation of decisions if delaying enforcement would cause irreparable damage.

AfriForum