The Congress of the People (Cope) has welcomed the “humiliation” of Eskom by the refusal of the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) to grant the utility a 25‚3% tariff hike.

“Sympathy for Eskom has evaporated altogether‚” said party spokesperson Dennis Bloem‚ who added that Nersa’s decision was “certainly a victory for class and the millions of South-Africans‚ especially the working unemployed”.

“With a bruising rebuff from Nersa and a severe talking to from Treasury‚ Eskom must now manage itself super efficiently or sell up‚” he said.

Treasury had told Nersa that many municipalities hadn’t budgeted for the increased tariff and could not therefore bear the added strain.

“We reiterate that Eskom should unbundle and take on strategic private sector partners. On its own it will never manage. It needs superior skills not clueless cadres‚” said Bloem.

“Cope is dismayed that minister of public enterprises Lynne Brown and the ruling party have forgotten about the hardships faced by the very people who had put them in to power.

“This humiliation for Eskom is a good lesson for it and for the ruling party.”