Fears are mounting that KwaDukuza Municipality’s (KDM) electrical losses could reach just under half-a-billion rand by the end of June next year.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaDukuza has asked municipal manager, Nhlanhla Mdakane, what plans are in place to address the fast-increasing losses.
Already these have risen to R262-million in the 2022/23 financial year, growing from the previous year’s R237-million loss.
In a letter to Mdakane, Ward 6 DA councillor Tammy Colley said: “In the first quarter of the current financial year, electricity losses in KwaDukuza already sit at 28%, which equates to an alarming figure of R109-million.”
If there were no aligned or concerted efforts to get on top of these losses, the figure could spiral to nearly half-a-billion rand.
“KwaDukuza municipality could have built 1 875 RDP houses, resurfaced 130km of roads or installed 525 high mast lights,” she said.
Responding to the Courier’s request for comment, KDM spokesperson Sphelelo Ngobese said several measures had been implemented to address electrical losses.
Some of the measures include auditing network customer links, meters and replacing outdated equipment.
The project, budgeted at R9-million, is already underway.
“The municipality has committed to reducing energy losses,” said Ngobese, adding that a number of businesses were fined and disconnected for electricity theft.
The Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association said it was equally concerned at the ‘alarming and uncontrolled increase in electricity losses’.
Chairman Brian Botes said they had raised the issue in every available public platform, as well as through direct communication with municipal officials.
“To date, we have received no concrete evidence that any intervention taken to stem these losses has been successful.”
Botes said they were concerned about the impact of these losses, especially with regard to service delivery and on future rates and electricity increases.
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