Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

Local Government Affairs Media statements | Media statements

AfriForum temporarily blocks Nersa and Eskom settlement that would cost South Africans billions

ByAfriForum 07/10/202507/10/2025

Soundbite: Deidré Steffens (English)

Soundbite: Deidré Steffens (Afrikaans)

Eskom and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa)’s controversial settlement agreement – which would cost consumers around R54 billion over a three-year period – was today put on hold for the time being thanks to AfriForum. Due to pressure from the civil rights organisation, Eskom agreed to transfer the case from the uncontested to the contested role. The agreement was to be ratified by a court order in the Pretoria High Court today. However, this move now creates the opportunity for AfriForum and other interested parties to join the case as parties. AfriForum believes that this settlement can be considered unlawful and unreasonable due to a lack of transparency.

AfriForum wrote to Eskom in September this year requesting that this case be removed from the uncontested roll so that the organisation could join the case as a party. Eskom opposed the request, arguing that AfriForum did not have the right to intervene and that the public did not have a veto right. According to Eskom, this settlement did not require public participation.

If this settlement were to proceed, consumers would face rate increases of almost 9% per year.

Deidré Steffens, AfriForum’s advisor for Local Government Affairs at AfriForum, believes that the energy giant’s response is short-sighted as the public will be directly affected by this decision. “To say that the public, who must fund the decision, has no interest in the matter shows Eskom’s blatant arrogance and it can no longer be tolerated and blindly funded.”

Eskom and Nersa must act transparently and responsibly, especially after Nersa’s several tariff missteps and Eskom’s uncertain financial management. According to AfriForum, Nersa is undermining public trust by attempting to conclude this settlement without public participation.

“This development is a victory for transparency and consumer rights. AfriForum will ensure that the public’s voice is heard and that Nersa and Eskom are held accountable for their decisions,” concludes Steffens.