PIETERMARITZBURG: 13 September 2007

Honourable Speaker 

Energy – including electricity - is considered to be a vital need to humanity which enhances both their human and economic development. It contributes not only to the improvement of education, health and living conditions; but also to the generation of wealth. 

KwaZulu Natal – like the whole country – is on an intensive campaign to generate wealth for the empowerment of its residents; especially those previously denied access to the wealth of the country. It is however, a sad reality that our Province is a tale of two ‘cities’ as it were. 

On one hand, one is attracted to the glitter of bright lights, to richness and luxury in the major cities of KwaZulu Natal. But travel just a short distance from these developed areas, and you will come face-to-face with poverty. You will be confronted by rural communities groping in darkness, with connection to the electrical grid being a far-off dream. And, let it be said, lack of electricity is particularly damaging to KwaZulu Natal's rural schools. Yet we expect education to lead our drive towards the realisation of the dreams of the 21st century. 

This is the background against which I rise to contribute to the debate on the address by the Minister of Minerals and Energy, the Hon. Ms Buyelwa Sonjica. I argue that as long as no action is taken now to address these glaring imbalances, our Province cannot see the light of that day when all poverty will have been banished from our midst. 

KwaZulu Natal lags behind 

The fact of the matter is that KwaZulu-Natal is way behind in terms of the backlogs, not only in the provision of electricity, but also in development generally. One is asking oneself if the current government is also playing the same game that was played by the Nationalist Party government which ensured that this Province remained in a Cinderella position. If not, then I would like to hear from the Hon. Minister as to what formula government has to address this backlog. 

Perceived bias towards urban areas 

It is a fact that government through Eskom has electrified some rural parts of the Province. But what concerns us is that when one compares the capacity of the electrical power supplied to rural communities with that supplied to big cities, one finds that the capacity for rural energy is lower. In most cases, electricity supplied to rural communities goes off at the slightest disturbance. When the wind blows for instance, you must be on the alert for it is very likely to disturb the power supply. Such things do not happen in the cities. 

This scenario then gives rise to feelings that government or Eskom is biased towards urban areas. One other example which strengthens this perception is found in the case of uMsinga. Eskom has decided to divide uMsinga Municipality into two areas, that is, Greytown which is nearer Pietermaritzburg and Tugela Ferry, maybe for purposes of improving service delivery. But the irony is that while the Pietermaritzburg power has been upgraded, Glencoe has not. The effect of this situation is that, while the power on the Greytown/Piertermaritzburg side is capable of handling the energy demands, uMsinga is struggling to meet its current demands, let alone the future demands. This says, for instance, that as the Municipality is about to move to new offices, they will go without air conditioners just because the electricity cannot cope. 

The remedy to this pathetic situation lies in Eskom giving serious attention to building substations in deep rural areas so as to boost the infrastructure currently available. 

Perceptions of using public funds for party-political advancement 

Another issue that is of concern is the perception that some Members tend to project government projects and taxpayers’ money as privileges or favours dispensed by a political party. 

I say this because I have witnessed an consisting exclusively of Members of the ruling party went out to one  community at uMkhanyakude District and promised that community what they referred to as a special project which would have them electrify about 300 houses. The question that came to my mind when I heard that was: ‘From which budget? Were they going to fund that project from their own pockets? Or, did they have a donor?’ 

Sadly, up to now nothing has materialised. But I am still to know whether, when they made such promises, they were relying on the national budget or any other funding. 

In the same uMkhanyakude District, there is an undertaking for working together between the District Municipality and Eskom to implement the IDP. But time-and-again Eskom comes up and initiates the so-called special projects which are outside the parameters of the IDP and which carry party-political undertones. Now some communities ask themselves whether Eskom is there to help speed up service delivery or it is there as a tool to advance the fortunes of the ruling party. 

One particularly alarming example of undue intervention from outside the established government structures are forays of ANC politicians into IFP-run municipalities. One such foray included the chairperson of the minerals and energy portfolio committee in the National Assembly, a senior ANC member of this legislature, and senior provincial government and Eskom officials. They came to uMkhanyakude, unannounced, with an assortment of so-called “special projects”. Not only were these out of line with the municipality’s IDP but they created discord in the community. The ANC is clearly more interested in taking credit for development than in development itself. 

Department’s unfulfilled undertaking to utilise multi-purpose centre 

Hon. Speaker, three years ago, the uMkhanyakude District Municipality approached the Department of Energy and Mineral Affairs with a request for the Department to utilize the Mbazwana Multi-Purpose Centre as a supply base for gas, which would benefit communities. The Department agreed to that request and there was an undertaking to have that project done. It is unfortunate however, that up to this moment, the Department has not honoured its undertaking.

Devolution of energy supply to municipalities 

Hon. Speaker, the government has at some stage pronounced that the supply of energy, and particularly electricity, was to be devolved to Municipalities. We applauded that thinking on the part of government because Municipalities are the sphere of government that is closest to the people. However, nothing seems to have been done to give effect to that undertaking. Was the government just politicking or, could it be that some among your allies managed to instil fear into the ruling party? One is expecting an answer from the Hon. Minister. 

Lack of communication between the Legislature and the department 

Mr. Speaker, we here understand very well that this Department is national.

But even though this is the case, it is a fact that the same Department operates within Provinces, and it operates among the very same communities we are representing. What concerns us therefore is the fact that there is no effective communication between this Legislature and Officials of the Department. While they have all the right to move and work among communities, I believe it is however proper that the left hand must know what the right hand is doing. I suggest therefore that there should be a mechanism to keep each other informed of what is happening on the ground. 

Conclusion 

These are just a few issues I am able to raise in the time available. In conclusion I wish to express my hope that the Hon. Minister’s Office will ensure that there is constant communication between the Department and the Municipalities on these matters because in fact they are the more relevant sphere of government in as far as the matter being debated here is concerned.

In addition, let this Legislature be in the know as well.

I thank you. 

Contact: Inkosi Bonga Mdletshe, 082 809 4550