ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ETHEKWINI ENERGY DIRECTORATE ACCELERATES REFORMS TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS
EThekwini Municipality’s Energy Management Directorate has intensified its reform efforts to ensure more reliable, efficient, and sustainable electricity services for residents.
Yesterday, 19 March, the directorate’s senior leadership convened at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre for a strategic Communication Workshop to align on the City’s Trading Service Reforms and strengthen service delivery across the Municipality.
The workshop formed part of a broader initiative across core trading services, including Water and Sanitation Services and Waste Management Directorates, aimed at directly improving the quality, reliability, and accessibility of essential services for the community.
The session was also attended by Executive Director for Technical Services, Ednick Msweli, and Chairperson of the City’s Trading Services Committee, Councillor Mdu Nkosi.
Its objective was to ensure leadership fully understands the directorate’s current position, the reform trajectory, and the role each division plays in communicating and driving transformation for operational teams and residents alike.
Director for Energy Management, Philani Shange, provided a candid overview of the Directorate’s performance, acknowledging a decline in revenue.
“We are committed to reversing this trend and ensuring our services meet the standards our residents deserve,” said Shange.
The reform strategy, approved by Council in late 2024 and accelerated through the 2025/26 financial period, focuses on infrastructure development, financial sustainability, strengthened operational support, and digitisation of electricity services.
Successful implementation is projected to unlock R2 billion in revenue recovery, with the potential to generate a surplus of nearly R700 million, enabling reinvestment in services that directly benefit residents.
Central to this are the directorate’s customer facing initiatives which include digitising customer interactions and adopting smart metering and billing.
These measures are expected to reduce illegal connections, enhance operational oversight, and significantly improve revenue collection, ensuring sustainable, uninterrupted service delivery for residents.
In his address, Msweli praised the directorate’s digital transformation efforts and highlighted their wider impact across the City’s services.
“Your performance directly affects the functioning of the Municipality. As energy services evolve with independent power producers and alternative energy sources, your role becomes even more critical to sustaining reliable and affordable services for our residents,” he said.
The workshop concluded with an interactive panel discussion, where deputy directors explored the practical implications of the reform strategy within their divisions.
The engagement reinforced a shared commitment to making Energy Management a resilient, efficient, and future-ready Directorate capable of delivering reliable services that meet the needs of the community.
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate
