SA power regulator signs off on tariff increase

The Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has allowed the beleaguered power utility Eskom to raise its tariff by nearly 19%.

This is despite the country currently facing up to 10 hours a day of load shedding as the state-owned company struggles to keep the lights on. The increase will come into effect in April.

While the 18.65% rise falls short of the 32 % that Eskom had originally asked for, cash-strapped South Africans are unhappy paying more for an unreliable service.

The unpopular tariff increase comes after Eskom implemented continuous stage 6 rolling blackouts this week.

Eskom, which is reported to have lost $890m (£730m) last year, is plagued by aging infrastructure, mismanagement and corruption allegations.

Its outgoing CEO, Andre de Ruyter who resigned last month, recently announced he survived an assassination attempt at his office after drinking coffee from a cup laced with cyanide.

This article originally appeared in BBC News