The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) is perturbed and outraged by the actions of the National Electricity Regulator that saw its written submission being overlooked despite all the communiqué and efforts to have it tabled in the Western Cape, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
Millions of South Africans were denied an opportunity of getting to understand and know about the gendered nature of what these high tariffs could have on the poorest of the poor. This happens, in many instances, on working women with low income, elders and children. The hearings were mostly male dominated and Commission for Gender Equality was going to offer another dimension that seeks to deal with challenges of everyone not only those in suburban areas but rural areas too.
The Commission for Gender Equality feels issues of exclusivity somewhat make the whole process questionable and cannot be deemed to be fair to those it sought to have had their voices heard. We believe, through us, although small and not enough resources, NERSA could have gained a whole lot going forward. It is actions such as these that make institutions and people despondent in attending hearings since they can allege that a decision has already been taken, the endeavour is a common courtesy to rubber stamp everything.
We call upon NERSA to rethink the gender imbalances it applied in adjudicating against some institutions in particularly those that are gender orientated. As an institution tasked with the advancement of gender equality in South Africa through various avenues, we feel it would have been permissible to have had a full representation on the NERSA contrary to the treatment.
Needless to say, our inability to make a submission have strongly disadvantaged the women of Manyiseni in KwaZulu-Natal, Muyexe in Limpopo, Lusikisiki in Eastern Cape etc. who look at this institution as a beacon of hope in the attainment of gender equality in their respective areas, more so to assist in dealing with various humanitarian issues, henceforth these high tariffs.
Issued by: Commission for Gender Equality
20 January 2010
