Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the City of Tshwane to reestablish its energy task team, and to procure a transactional adviser on the power stations. Without these steps the City has little to offer IPPs aside from more confusion.
In September 2024, when the Democratic Alliance (DA) and our coalition partners were removed from office in Tshwane, the City was well on its way to procure private investment at Pretoria West and Rooiwal power stations.
Since then, Tshwane’s ANC coalition has dragged its feet with the project, confused about whether or not it wants greater energy independence from Eskom. The City’s tariff policy has actively discouraged IPPs from setting up in Tshwane.
In 2023 the DA and our coalition partners made the policy decision to lease the City’s two power stations to Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The decision was endorsed by the municipal council.
An energy task team was appointed to drive this goal, and to overcome vested interests inside the City who would’ve preferred for taxpayers’ money to be used to keep Rooiwal power stations under maintenance.
On the advice of the energy task team, we budgeted R50 million for the appointment of a transactional adviser to get the City the best possible deal in leasing Rooiwal and Pretoria West to IPPs.
The ANC coalition, which replaced the DA and our coalition in October 2024, in Tshwane has failed to procure a transactional adviser for the power stations. The energy task team has also effectively been disbanded.
Politicians inside Tshwane’s ANC coalition have made contradictory statements about energy policy, including that the City would prefer to use Eskom as its transactional adviser, a decision which would defeat the purpose of reducing the City’s dependence on Eskom.
In the first budget passed under the ANC coalition in June this year, the City’s wheeling tariff was hiked to such an extent as to actually discourage investment in alternative energy generation in Tshwane.
In place of announcing actual investment in Rooiwal and Pretoria West power stations, Tshwane’s ANC coalition mayor, Nasiphi Moya will call for such investment to be made. Tshwane is now further away from procuring investment than it was when Moya became mayor, a testament to the confusion, incoherence and lack of leadership at the heart of her government.
Regards
Ald Cilliers Brink
DA Tshwane Mayoral Candidate