"It's Ridiculous": Gent Breaks Down How Prepaid Metering Works in South Africa, Mzansi Chimes In
- A South African man has shared his expertise on prepaid metering systems, explaining how they work and clarifying the process
- His breakdown highlights the complexities of utility management in South Africa and how tariff charges are determined
- The explanation has sparked interest and debate online, with many people discussing the implications of prepaid metering and the high cost of electricity in South Africa
- Briefly News asked financial expert Fulufhelani Mashapha how important it is for families to consider the hidden costs of electricity meters
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A South African man has taken to social media to break down how prepaid metering systems work, offering clarity to tenants, landlords, and homeowners alike.
Source: TikTok
His explanation has sparked interest online as many people often question who they are paying what for, and how the process functions.
South Africa's average national energy bill has increased by 190% since 2014, and the country is in danger of becoming unaffordable due to a series of above-inflation rises. In its annual report on South Africa's power-generating statistics, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) disclosed this information.
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According to Meerkat.co.za, the state-owned electricity company Eskom raised average prices for direct consumers by 12.74% on April 1, 2025. They also reported that the municipalities, including Cape Town, experienced a comparable hike (11.32% for bulk purchases) beginning July 1, 2025. These hikes fit into a broader pattern of South Africa's electricity prices increasing.
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Gent explains how prepaid metering works
In the video, shared by the man on TikTok under the handle @djwesreddy, he shared how prepaid meters are particularly useful for landlords who rent out additional units such as granny flats.
“If someone owns a house with a granny flat and they want to put their tenants on prepaid electricity or water, they buy a meter from any hardware or wholesaler and register it with a third-party meter company using their personal details,” he said.
Once registered, @djwesreddy explained that whenever tenants purchase tokens, the money goes directly into the owner’s account. However, the landlord still has the responsibility of paying their own municipal account separately.
“Those are two separate transactions,” he emphasised in the clip that was posted on July 24, 2025.
He further drew comparisons to townhouse complexes, apartments, and flats where managing agents or body corporates purchase electricity in bulk from municipalities. Tenants then buy electricity from the body corporate, which essentially resells the service. Importantly, @djwesreddy noted that all tariff charges in such cases are determined by the property management, not by the municipality.
“Tenants or sub-meters are different. Municipal meters are different in this way,” he clarified, stressing that residents should understand the distinction to avoid confusion about billing.
@djwesreddy has been praised for making prepaid metering more understandable, particularly for renters who often question fluctuating costs and landlords seeking fair ways to manage utilities. The explanation highlights the layered structure of utility management in South Africa, showing how transactions between municipalities, landlords, and tenants are kept separate yet interconnected.
Watch the video below:
Briefly News asked financial expert Fulufhelani Mashapha why families should take hidden meter costs into account. She said:
"Actively seeking ways to improve efficiency-whether through energy-saving habits, using cost-effective appliances, or adopting smart home technologies-can lead to meaningful long-term savings."
SA voices their thoughts on the electricity issue
People in South Africa took to the comments section to share their thoughts on the man's insightful findings and the electricity issue in Mzansi.
Boni said:
"Is it possible for tenants to tamper with the sub-meter and not buy electricity."
Kerry.mitchell258 shared:
"My landlord refuses to disclose why the charges I have on my prepaid meter are so high, but now it makes sense. If the landlord sets the price, does it mean he pockets the money above what the municipality charges the landlord monthly? And how is this even legal."
Dheshen Naidoo wrote:
"It's ridiculous, though, for the tenants that have a third-party meter. The rate per unit is so high. Only found out about this three months ago when my cousin purchased one for a certain amount, with how less units they got compared to a Municipal meter. It's actually daylight robbery for the tenant."
CapeTOcairo expressed:
"It's time we privatise these meter companies, so we can choose the supplier who gives the best rates."
Farouk replied:
"No matter how you look at it, it’s still daylight robbery what we pay per unit of electricity. We should protest."
Source: TikTok
Here's another TikTok video:
More stories on electricity by Briefly News
- A South African man has broken down the cost of running a Wi-Fi router for an entire month, and the numbers have sparked interest online.
- A South African man has sparked conversation online after breaking down the cost of using an electric blanket, showing just how affordable it can be to stay warm during winter.
- One gent in Mzansi took it upon himself to help folks as he broke down two appliances that use the most electricity.
Updated by Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News.
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Proofreading by Roxanne Dos Ramos, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
Johana Mukandila (Human Interest Editor) Johana Tshidibi Mukandila has been a Human Interest Reporter at Briefly News since 2023. She has over four years of experience as a multimedia journalist. Johana holds a national diploma in journalism from the Cape Peninsula University Of Technology (2023). She has worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, PAICTA, BONA Magazine and Albella Music Production. She is currently furthering her education in journalism at the CPUT. She has passed a set of trainings from Google News Initiative. Reach her at johana.mukandila@briefly.co.za
Fulufhelani Mashapha (Author and Actuarial Analyst) Fulufhelani Mashapha is a qualified actuarial analyst and author of 'Mind Your Cents'. She is also a One Young World Ambassador and Personal Finance Youtuber focusing on budgets, debt, savings, insurance and investments.
