Significant strides have been made to stabilise KwaDukuza’s electrical grid, but ongoing maintenance and repairs still require firm budget commitment.

This was the key message from last week’s KwaDukuza Electrical Task Team report-back meeting. KDM electrical director Sibusiso Jali provided updates to task team members, including representatives from the iLembe Chamber of Commerce, ratepayer associations and local estates.

The task team was established during the power crisis on KwaDukuza’s southern grid, with a goal to stabilise supply before Easter and secure civic oversight of the municipal electricity budget. Power was largely uninterrupted during the Easter period, and several key repairs have since been completed.

Two hundred metres of waterlogged cable feeding the Imbonini substation – one of the main causes of outages in Shaka’s Head, Salt Rock and surrounding areas – has been replaced and connected.

Meanwhile, underground lines supplying the Sheffield substation are being replaced by overhead lines to cross the Umhlali River.

“The first circuit is complete, and KDM is preparing to connect the second circuit this weekend,” said iLembe Chamber CEO Cobus Oelofse.

However, budget representation remains unresolved, with the passing of the 2025/26 municipal budget scheduled for next week’s council meeting.

KDM mayor, Ali Ngidi, and municipal manager, Nhlanhla Mdakane, did not attend the Task Team meeting, meaning direct engagement with municipal leadership remains outstanding, although the Chamber and ratepayer groups have made formal written submissions.

“National calls for the cutting of municipal allocations and infrastructure funding, essential for the improvement of service delivery, and the fixing and upgrading of electrical infrastructure especially, adds to real concern,” said Oelofse.

“The Chamber has been approached with a further suggested date for the engagement, which was proposed by the MM and mayor back in mid-January 2025.”

For more information on the budget, watch a conversation between Cobus Oelofse and Devin Shutte, head of investments at The Robert Group.

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