Certain municipal infrastructure should be exempted from load-shedding, according to the South African Local Government Association (Salga).
This was why the organisation wants to meet with newly appointed electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, said Salga president Bheke Stofile.
“We would like to talk with the minister to try and exempt some municipal infrastructure from load-shedding because it hinders with providing service delivery to the people,” Stofile said.
Load-shedding also results in revenue losses and damage to electricity distribution networks, especially substations.
Treatment plants and other infrastructure were also affected while opportunistic theft and vandalism during load-shedding were also a problem.
“Ramokgopa’s appointment couldn’t have come at a better time,” he said.
“It sends a strong signal that the government was focusing on key governance issues that require immediate attention.”
He said Salga welcomed Ramokgopa as the Minister of Electricity in the Presidency.
“We believe that he will speed up the implementation of the national energy plan.
“As a former Tshwane mayor, he is ideally qualified and experienced to work closely with Cogta and other government departments to collectively find solutions to our electricity, water, sanitation, waste management and environmental management challenges.”
The country has more than 3 000 ageing municipal substations that are increasingly blowing up, which is in turn adding up to the country’s electricity woes.
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