Durban, 7 February 2025 – Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, and Eskom KZN leadership, led by General Manager Kevin Pillay, met today to address the province’s pressing electricity challenges. This crucial meeting forms part of MEC Buthelezi’s ongoing initiative to tackle issues hampering local government and ensure communities’ needs are met. The MEC is committed to creating a local government sphere that is responsive to the needs of communities and is able to deliver.
Discussions centred on the current state of the KZN power grid and explored innovative solutions to improve electricity access for all residents. The meeting identified challenges faced by both Eskom and municipalities in implementing electricity projects.
Key focus areas included:
• Combating illegal connections, which destabilise the grid and negatively impact service delivery.
• Progress on addressing issues with isolated transformers across the province.
• The development and implementation of a comprehensive electrification master plan.
• A thorough review of the current electrification status in KwaZulu-Natal.
• Eskom’s planned projects for the 2025/26 financial year, including 11,753 new connections valued at R474 million and infills.
A key outcome of the meeting was the agreement to establish closer collaboration between COGTA and Eskom to address outstanding municipal debt owed to the power utility. Both parties also committed to strengthening engagement with all local government stakeholders to improve community access to electricity. MEC Buthelezi reiterated his commitment to working closely with municipalities on electricity provision and with law enforcement agencies to combat the sabotage of both municipal and Eskom infrastructure.
“This engagement is vital,” emphasised MEC Buthelezi. “We are committed to addressing community concerns with the urgency they deserve. This partnership with Eskom underscores our dedication to finding practical and sustainable solutions to improve service delivery and the lives of all KwaZulu-Natal residents. Ultimately, our communities must be the beneficiaries of our efforts, and I am committed to acting in their best interests.”
Issued by: KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs