Residents Urged to Attend Tariff Meetings as Electricity Increase Proposed

Residents across Komani and surrounding towns are being urged to attend a series of public meetings next week, where a proposed 12% electricity tariff increase will be discussed.

The meetings, organised by the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, form part of the required public participation process before any tariff adjustments can be approved for the new financial year.

The municipality has called on residents to “be part of consultative meetings on electricity tariffs”.

Full Meeting Schedule

The municipality has released the following dates, venues and times:

Monday, 23 March 2026

• Ezibeleni Cluster — Ezibeleni Community Hall (Zone 1) — 10:00
• Mlungisi Cluster — Skweyiya Hall — 12:00

Tuesday, 24 March 2026

• Molteno — Molteno Showgrounds — 10:00
• Sterkstroom — Community Hall (Masakhe) — 10:00
• Tarkastad — Zola Community Hall — 10:00
• Hofmeyr — Town Hall — 10:00
• Komani Town — Komani Library — 18:00

Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting closest to them.

Tariff Increase Still Under Consideration

The municipality has tabled a proposed 12% increase in electricity tariffs. The increase has not yet been finalised and remains subject to public input.

These meetings are intended to give residents an opportunity to:

• Ask questions
• Raise concerns
• Provide input before a final decision is taken

Public participation is a required part of the municipal budgeting process.

Concerns Over Meeting Times

Questions are likely to be raised about the timing of the meetings, with most scheduled during weekday mornings and standard working hours.

This may make it difficult for many residents — particularly those who are employed or unable to leave work — to attend and participate in discussions around the proposed increase.

Only the Komani Town meeting has been scheduled for the evening at 18:00.

The accessibility of these meetings may influence how many residents are able to engage in the process.

Why Attendance Matters

Electricity tariffs directly impact households, businesses, and the local economy.

At a time when many residents are already facing rising living costs, participation in these meetings is important to ensure that community concerns are heard and recorded.

Residents who do not attend may miss the opportunity to influence decisions that will affect their monthly expenses.

Call to Residents

Komani News encourages residents to attend in numbers and engage constructively with municipal officials.

This is an opportunity to seek clarity, raise concerns, and ensure that community voices are included before any final decision is made.