By: Abigail Visagie
Matjhabeng Local Municipality is set to start generating its own electricity sooner than anticipated. Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa confirmed there are no legal barriers preventing the move, marking a significant step towards energy independence for the region.
Speaking during his visit to the municipality on Monday, Ramokgopa stated that the initiative is part of a broader intervention aimed at achieving universal electricity access for all, regardless of their demographics.
“There are about 1.6 million households in South Africa without electricity. We need to reduce that number, even in rural or informal settlements that have since been formalised,” said Ramokgopa.
He added that he would not be deterred by the annual budget allocation when it comes to initiating Matjhabeng’s procurement of generation capacity and other related projects.
According to him, the issue is not the size of the budget, but rather how it is utilised.
Although we have a budget of R4 billion, we are currently working with the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) to attract additional investment. We already have seed capital, and the R4 billion is secured. This is funding received over time — the aim now is to leverage and accelerate its impact,” he said.
A delighted Executive Mayor of Matjhabeng, Thanduxolo Khalipha, said the construction work will be carried out by the municipality itself to empower local residents with skills and knowledge.
“We are preparing for our investment summit in October, which is intended to attract investors for our energy hub. The City of eThekwini already has its license — we’ll be visiting them because we want to be the first local municipality in the country to obtain that license, in the interest of our people. We want them to benefit. Construction will be done by Matjhabeng, not private contractors — we are going to empower our people,” he said.
Ramokgopa noted that Matjhabeng is home to 1,400 megawatts of Independent Power Producer (IPP) generation capacity, making the municipality a highly attractive location for energy production. He urged the municipality to begin investing in its own IPP projects rather than relying solely on the private sector.
