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.

Your solar panels vs Eskom

Eskom’s years of mismanagement, corruption and serious lack of accountability ultimately led to a complete collapse of South Africa’s power grid.

Loadshedding has been part of South Africans’ daily lives for years. Unfortunately, this loadshedding has hampered the operations of various businesses, farms and industries and put serious pressure on everyone.

True to the nature of South Africans, we did not sit back and relax but sought alternatives to reliable power supply such as batteries, generators, but in most cases – solar panels.

What does Eskom say about this now?

Eskom has launched a campaign in early 2024 urging all its customers to register their solar panels.
Customers must have their system approved by a professional engineer (a requirement that can cost you more than R20 000).
However, after sustained pressure from AfriForum, Eskom changed this requirement so that an accredited electrician can sign off on the system.
Eskom insists that registrations are mandatory.

What AfriForum says:

Eskom does not have the necessary policies in place to enforce registrations.
Although legislation allows Eskom to require registrations, Eskom must first have proper policies in place.
Until Eskom has the necessary policies in place, they may not force consumers to register.
There is no legal basis for Eskom to issue fines.
Persons who do not get their power directly from Eskom should not register with Eskom at all.

What is AfriForum doing now?

AfriForum maintains that Eskom does not have proper policies in place to force users to register.
AfriForum previously wrote to Eskom to ask what policies they have to make registration mandatory. Eskom was unable to provide this information.
AfriForum will continue to put pressure on Eskom and Nersa to ensure that they do not abuse their power to force people to do something for which they do not have proper policies in place.

Do I have to register my solar panels with Eskom?

There is no obligation on you to comply with Eskom’s latest registration requirements. Each municipality must have their own bylaw in place on rules regarding the registration of solar panels. So be on the lookout for that.

You do not have to register your system with Eskom or the municipality. Eskom does require you to submit a signed declaration confirming that you are not connected to the Eskom system.

You are obliged to register with Nersa, even if you do not supply any electricity to the grid.

Eskom’s latest communication states that these consumers must register. However, AfriForum believes that Eskom must first be able to substantiate the regulations or policies on which they rely before they can place consumers under such an obligation.

AfriForum believes that Eskom must first substantiate the regulations or policies on which they rely before they place consumers under such an obligation.