ActionSA vindicated by Tshwane Mayor’s energy plans, concerned over lack of consequences

18 September 2023

ActionSA is vindicated by the announcement by City of Tshwane Executive Mayor, Cilliers Brink, announcement today that a public participation process would be launched for the proposed 40-year lease of the Rooiwal and Pretoria West Power Stations.

At ActionSA’s policy conference last week, delegates resolved that South Africa should have a liberalised electricity market where private and public players are able to compete in electricity generation to help reduce costs. We, therefore, welcome steps to lease the power stations.

However, we are deeply concerned about allegations of overreach by former mayor, Randall Williams, who previously tried to push through an unsolicited bid for the power stations to the Kratos Consortium. This was part of the reasons we asked for his resignation.

ActionSA therefore believe we are vindicated by Brink’s announcement as we have long maintained that the process to lease the power stations should be relaunched in a transparent manner to avoid corruption.

We furthermore believe that the City of Tshwane Speaker should complete his investigation into Williams’s actions to ensure that appropriate steps are taken in this regard.At a time when the city finds itself in a precarious financial position, care and due diligence should be taken to ensure that all decisions are taken in the best interest of Tshwane residents.

As a committed member of the multi-party government in the city of Tshwane, ActionSA will continue to work with our partners to ensure that public finances are not misused, and that good quality service delivery is restored.

Issued by Funzi Ngobeni, ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson, 18 September 2023