KwaDukuza municipality has approved the transfer of nearly R1.47-million within its electricity budget to fund streetlight repairs and complete a power monitoring project serving three hospitals.

The decision was taken at last Thursday’s council meeting at KwaDukuza Town Hall.

The electrical engineering services business unit has come under increasing financial pressure due to budget constraints, ageing infrastructure, theft and vandalism, illegal electricity connections, and rising project costs.

The department maintains the municipal electricity network, including streetlights across KwaDukuza. Officials said the southern electricity network has experienced a growing number of faults, while theft and vandalism of streetlight infrastructure have driven up maintenance costs.

Although the municipality reduced the department’s operational budget during the 2025/2026 budget process to ensure a balanced budget, higher-than-expected repair and maintenance costs have since placed additional pressure on available funds.

Council approved the transfer of R300 000 from the traffic lights (contractors) budget to the streetlights (consumption) budget to keep repairs and maintenance on track.

A further R1.16-million will be transferred from the Network Master Planning (reticulation) budget for the implementation of the municipality’s SCADA system.

The SCADA system will be installed at electricity switching stations supplying General Gizenga Provincial Hospital, KwaDukuza Private Hospital and Netcare Alberlito Hospital to improve power monitoring and supply reliability.

The project has also been affected by higher-than-expected contract price adjustments because some specialised equipment is imported, increasing costs.

Council also resolved that the department’s funding requirements would be considered during the municipality’s next adjustment budget.

Democratic Alliance chief whip Jack Abrahams said the party opposed transferring funds from the traffic lights budget, arguing that several traffic signals across the municipality have been out of service for more than a year.

“We understand the need to repair streetlights, but traffic lights in both Stanger and Ballito also require urgent attention. The eBandla intersection, in particular, has become a serious safety risk because vehicles are speeding through without stopping,” he said.

Abrahams said the party believed the traffic lights budget should remain intact, particularly with the municipal adjustment budget due soon.

However, he confirmed the DA supported the transfer of R1.16-million to complete the SCADA project.