Child-friendly hiking trails in Cape Town to try these school holidays

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) are locked in a contentious debate over Cape Town's electricity tariffs. PA mayoral hopeful Cheslyn Daniels claims the DA-led City is merely "blaming Eskom" for the high electricity costs faced by residents. Daniels asserts that the DA-led City determines the tariff structure, including fixed service and wires charges, and collects the money.

However, DA councillor Angus McKenzie vehemently disagrees, stating that Eskom is the primary driver of electricity costs. McKenzie argues that around 70% of the City's electricity tariff income is spent on purchasing bulk power from Eskom, and he calls for greater competition in the electricity market to help reduce costs. The City maintains that Eskom's municipal tariff increased by 9.01% for the 2026/27 financial year, while the average residential increase was limited to 6.64%.

The overall average electricity tariff increase for the year is projected at 6.67%, with variations for different customer types. Mayco member for Energy, Xanthea Limberg, dismisses Daniels' claim, stating that the tariff is a combination of fixed and consumption-based components, with the fixed portion covering costs regardless of electricity consumption.

Limberg emphasizes that approximately 70% of tariff income goes towards buying bulk electricity from Eskom, with the remainder covering services and infrastructure. The City is currently taking steps to reduce its dependence on Eskom, including signing power purchase agreements with independent producers, which are projected to be 19% to 21% cheaper than current Eskom rates over a 20-year period.

Daniels pledges that, if elected, the PA would focus on providing financial relief to struggling households, including a proposed municipal debt write-off and a three-month rates payment holiday for pensioners. McKenzie challenges the City to disclose how much electricity is bought from Eskom, the charges residents are paying through tariffs and fixed charges, and how the funds are spent.

The ongoing dispute arises as political parties gear up for the upcoming local government elections, with electricity affordability taking center stage as a pressing concern for households.