While residents of Ekurhuleni endure near-daily power outages, more than R500 million worth of critical electricity infrastructure has been sitting unused in municipal warehouses for nearly a decade.
An inventory report from the Department of Energy revealed that prepaid electricity meters, transformers, breakers, switches, and high-voltage cables, valued at approximately R512 million, have gathered dust since 2015.
This equipment could be deployed immediately to address urgent repairs and upgrades across the Metro.
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Despite these findings, the Department continues to cite equipment and labour shortages as the reason for delayed repairs, an explanation that is now under intense scrutiny.
Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) councillor Denise Janse van Rensburg has raised the alarm, saying the situation reflects severe mismanagement within the Metro’s energy services.
“Residents are suffering while life-saving infrastructure rots in warehouses,” said Janse van Rensburg.
“The excuses have run dry. There needs to be full transparency and urgent intervention.”
The VF Plus has repeatedly challenged the Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Mzayifani Ngwenya, over the backlog in service delivery and the apparent contradiction in the Department’s justifications.
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Ngwenya has maintained that the inventory is being managed according to service delivery needs and denied any overspending in its procurement.
However, concerns are mounting that much of the unused equipment may already be obsolete or damaged, representing a looming financial loss for the City.
In response, the VF Plus has called for a full, independent investigation into the management of power inventory since 2015 and a comprehensive audit of all electricity-related equipment procured and stored.
The party has also requested a detailed action plan to ensure proper supply, circulation, and installation.
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“The Department of Energy underpins the economic and social well-being of Ekurhuleni,” Janse van Rensburg added.
“This level of mismanagement is unacceptable. The community deserves transparency and decisive action.”
The Kempton Express requested comment from the City of Ekurhuleni by close of business on May 8.
At the time of publication on May 9, no comment had been received from the City of Ekurhuleni.
