President Cyril Ramaphosa has weighed in on Eskom’s application to hike power cost by 32%, saying, through his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, that a balance was needed between the utility’s need for cash and the consumer’s ability to pay. The National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) has granted Eskom a 18.65% increase.

Magwenya, who was briefing members of the media at the Union Buildings on Thursday said Ramaphosa was worried about the rising cost of living and how load-shedding was adding to an already difficult economic situation...