Tshwane to allocate R1 billion for water and electricity infrastructure

Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink announced that the City will propose the allocation of R1 billion for electricity and water infrastructure in the budget for the 2023/24 financial year. This move is aimed at reducing the City’s dependence on Eskom and will prioritize replacing aged water infrastructure. But Brink believes this is just the beginning, and the amount will increase as the City improves its long-term planning ability.

What are the details of the proposal?

• R165 million investment: The City invested R165 million to date in water demand and water loss management projects with 12.4 km of outdated asbestos cement water pipes replaced in several areas.
• Danish funding: The Danish will provide R33 million to enhance the internal capacity to reduce water losses, manage wastewater treatment, explore resource opportunities, and develop a water security strategy.
• Rooiwal Power Station: The City will reduce its dependence on Eskom by devising proposals before the end of the year for the use of the Rooiwal Power Station. The plans will follow a public participation process and an agreement with private partners in the next year, which will unlock the electricity-generating capacity at Rooiwal and reduce the burden of load shedding on communities.

Why is this important?

The move comes at a time when the economic outlook is gloomy, and South Africans continue to face load shedding, posing structural problems to the economy. The allocation of funds for electricity and water infrastructure aims to reduce the City’s dependence on Eskom, stabilize the electricity distribution network, and mitigate load shedding. Tshwane is prioritizing replacing aged water infrastructure to ensure that residents have access to clean drinking water.

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