With electricity rates rising, load shedding on the horizon and illegal electricity connections, the consumer comes off second best.
“Driving through Zwelihle, the illegal electricity connections are clearly visible,” a resident of Sandbaai said. “I have reported it to the Overstrand Municipality but nothing has come of it.”
According to the Overstrand Municipality addressing illegal connections is an ongoing process. In May 2023, the OM stated the work on the electrification of Marikana in Zwelihle started the second week in May 2023 and was progressing well. “This need was identified during 2022, after a number of transformers in the area had to be replaced due to overloading as a result of the myriad of illegal electricity connections.
“The situation was further exacerbated by the tragic death of a toddler who was electrocuted by an illegal connection,” Municipal Manager Dean O’Neill said in 2023.
He said Dr Annelie Rabie, had come to an agreement with the community to assist the municipality with the safeguarding of its infrastructure and promised she would actively look for funding to start addressing the electricity backlog.
“This was indeed done when funding became available after the adjustments budget in January 2023 for the electrification of the first of 12 blocks of 200 connections in the area called Marikana in Zwelihle. The rest will be done as funding becomes available.”
Two years later, on 20 January, 500 households in Marikana were earmarked for electrification as part of Phase 2 of Overstrand Municipality’s project to
improve the living conditions of those who reside in this informal settlement in Zwelihle.
“Early in December last year the electricity supply to 170 of those households was switched on,” O’Neill said, “and it is anticipated that the remainder of the connections will be completed by mid-2025.”
Rabie pointed out: “Projects such as these not only restore the dignity of those who reside in informal settlements by making access to basic conveniences such as a hot shower and refrigerated food possible, they also go a long way towards formalising electrical infrastructure and eliminating illegal and dangerous connections.”
Meanwhile, Rabie added her voice to the rejection of an electricity price hike. “I wholeheartedly support the DA’s firm stance against [energy regulator] Nersa’s approval of Eskom’s 12,7% electricity tariff increase, especially when it’s being added on top of the 4% already imposed for 2025. This hike will only add to the already heavy financial strain that our communities are facing.”
Residents are of the opinion that too little is being done to curb the illegal electricity connections.
“Not only does it feel we are paying for the illegal connections, but homeowners and businesses in the Overstrand who have installed solar systems must register their installations and I hope this is for free,” one resident said.
This comes after the OM issued a letter about the registration of your solar or back-up system.
Said O’Neill: “Customers wishing to install a Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) system, regardless of its generation capacity, need to complete an application form and request written approval from the Municipality prior to the commencement of system procurement and installation. The approval process for an SSEG installation will vary, depending on the size of the system and consumer category.”
He said registering one’s system will assist Overstrand in ensuring a safe working environment for all their electrical personnel, a reliable network for all consumers and to comply with regulatory requirements for allowing SSEG on their networks. There is no cost for registering a system.
The OM also stated customers and contractors can make use of their online SSEG application portal to submit all applications and registrations for SSEG systems. “The portal allows applicants to see all active and completed applications on their profile and receive updates as their application goes through the various stages of evaluation,” O’Neill said.
To access the portal, visit apply.sseg.org.za, register as an applicant and follow the easy steps to capture your application and upload the relevant documents as requested. Alternatively, visit the Overstrand Municipal website www.overstrand.gov.za scroll down to Municipal Services and click on the “Electricity and SSEG” tab.
