FF Plus demands that Eskom ends the Billiton electricity contract
The Freedom Front Plus is indignant about the preferential electricity tariffs that BHP Billiton has been receiving and demands that this contract is set aside (see Fin24 report).
The previously confidential tariffs have been released following a successful court application by Media24 against Eskom in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
"Media24 has to be congratulated with their successful application which is to the advantage of ordinary electricity consumers. The public can now see how they are effectually subsidising industries in the country and in so doing are being impoverished," Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus' parliamentary spokesperson on economic affairs said.
"It is truly a scandal that the man and woman on the street have to help carry the industries financially when they for a long time did not have access to that information.
"There should be serious investigation now into the true socio-economic effect of the protection of heavy industries at the cost of the ordinary consumer. The question is whether the preferential treatment had really been to the advantage of the economy as a whole.
"It is doubtful if it is taken into account that the gap between rich and poor is just increasing, which in turn means that the middle class is busy disappearing. The country's industrial action plan will therefore have to be revised to focus on effective industries which do not milk the ordinary electricity consumers dry and which could reduce unemployment," Alberts added.
He says the FF Plus believes there are still confidential contracts which are to the detriment of the consumer and which should be made public, such as the contract between Kapsch Trafficom and SANRAL in terms of the provision of services with regard to the Gauteng e-till system.
The government will gradually realise that it cannot withhold this information from the public.
Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus parliamentary spokesperson: Economic Affairs, March 22 2013
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