Umhlabuyalingana is the country’s least electrified municipality, with some saying a lack of political may mean the region remains in the dark.
UMHLABUYALINGANA - While perpetual load shedding sees South Africa lose hundreds of hours of electricity on an annual basis, some communities around the country still live in around-the-clock darkness.
Meanwhile, the number of households without access was at 32,285 in the municipality’s 2020/2021 annual report. This would comprise 161,425 people at five persons per household, which mayor Thembinkosi Khumalo said was the area’s average. “The municipality currently has no distribution licence and does not own any electrification infrastructure, therefore [it] cannot spend its own funding on electrification capital infrastructure,” he added.
Electricity - or a lack thereof - has a knock-on impact on education, health, water supply, work opportunities, trade and industry, connectivity, and other state-provided services.“On the ground, there are still many communities that don't have access to electricity,” Chinyavanhu said. “Part of that would be initiating a just transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy, and ensuring that the necessary conditions are met for widespread electrification.”
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