South Africans woke up on Wednesday 1 April 2026 to a double economic blow: record fuel price increases taking effect at the same time as Eskom’s electricity tariffs climbing 8.8%. The timing has drawn sharp criticism from consumer advocacy groups and opposition parties, who argue that households are being crushed by simultaneous cost-of-living pressures.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved the Eskom tariff increase as part of the utility’s multi-year price determination. For the average residential consumer, the 8.8% hike translates to a meaningful increase in the monthly electricity bill — and that is before municipalities add their own mark-ups on top of the Eskom bulk tariff.
A further municipal electricity tariff increase is expected on 1 July 2026, meaning consumers will absorb two electricity price shocks within a single financial year. The compounding effect is particularly severe for low-income households that spend a disproportionately large share of their income on energy.
For SASSA Older Person Grant recipients — who receive R2 400 per month — the R80 grant increase is almost entirely consumed by higher electricity costs, leaving virtually nothing for other necessities. Analysts warn that the convergence of higher electricity and fuel costs will push more households below the food poverty line unless targeted relief measures are introduced.
Eskom has maintained that the tariff increases are necessary to service debt and fund infrastructure maintenance, emphasising that South Africa’s current period of significantly reduced load shedding is dependent on continued investment in the grid.
