ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in the Northern Cape has established a District Energy Council (DEC) to coordinate energy matters between municipalities, Eskom, national government, large electricity users and communities.
Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Maré said the structure is the first of its kind in South Africa and it will be piloted for 12 months through the Department of Electricity and Energy’s Integrated National Electrification Programme.
The DEC includes representatives of the department, Eskom, district and local municipalities, the agriculture and business sectors and broader society. It will meet at least quarterly.
Graham-Maré said the DEC will seek to “close the gap between Eskom and municipalities”, strengthen collaboration between the department and municipalities, include large electricity off-takers and keep energy matters on local municipal agendas across the district.
The department plans to pilot further councils in the Bojanala Platinum District in North West, Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape and the Cape Winelands District in the Western Cape.
