Msunduzi Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla delivered his last budget speech before the local government elections, promising to combat electricity theft.
Image: Independent Media Archives
Looters of the Msunduzi Municipality's electricity through illegal connections will soon feel the might of the law, as Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla vowed on Friday to work with the police to arrest them all.
He made the promise while delivering the KwaZulu-Natal capital city’s 2026/27 budget, the last before the November local government elections, at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall.
Thebolla said electricity theft is not faceless, as many homes have visible illegal connections.
“Electricity theft costs the city hundreds of millions in lost revenue per year. This is stealing much-needed revenue from the city and denying fellow residents enhanced service delivery.
“To combat this, we will continue to collaborate with communities and law enforcement to arrest offenders and impose hefty penalties.”
He said illegal connections erode the municipality’s financial sustainability and reduce its capacity to invest in and maintain critical infrastructure, “thereby threatening the quality and reliability of service delivery for all”.
“It is important that the public is aware that electricity theft is a crime and that all forms of illegal connections are a criminal offence. Electricity theft costs the city hundreds of millions in lost revenue per year,” Thebolla said.
He also raised concern about the persisting culture of non-payment of services, as households owe the city R7.9 billion, while businesses owe R1.3 billion.
He invited account defaulters to come forward to plead their cases as the municipality is prepared to offer viable and affordable payment arrangements “tailored to your financial circumstances”.
“We urge all affected households and businesses to seize this opportunity.”
He said defaulters had up to September 30, a four-month window period, to pay 50% of their debt upfront, and then businesses settle the balance within three months.
“Residential debtors are required to pay 50% upfront, with the remainder due within six months.
“These upfront payments are based on the reduced discounted settlement figure,” he said.
He delivered his speech after the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (NERSA’s) approval of Eskom to increase electricity tariffs by 8.76%, and while the uMngeni-uThukela Water has proposed a 13% increase in bulk water tariffs to municipalities from July 1.
Thebolla said that although the proposed and approved tariff increase will be carried by consumers, there were plans for struggling communities.
“As public representatives, how we treat the most vulnerable in our communities reflects our values.
“That is why, as the municipality, we have taken decisive and compassionate action to expand the reach of our Indigent Support Programme,” Thebolla said.
He said the municipality will soon deploy more than Expanded Public Works Programme workers to conduct door-to-door assessments of households to register those who qualify to be placed under the indigent programme.
Currently, there are more than 7,000 households benefiting from the programme.
“And we aim to reach even more. To make this possible, we have increased the qualifying household income threshold to R6,280.00, ensuring that more low-income families can access this vital support.
“If you fall within this income bracket and are not yet registered, we invite you to come forward and apply.”
He added that the municipality has written off more than R57 million worth of debts of 976 families, who are classified as indigent.
“Our target is to write off up to R200 million in historical debt during this financial year. We therefore extend a sincere invitation to all qualifying indigent households struggling with historic municipal debt — we have a plan for you.
“Come forward and make use of this opportunity to restore your financial standing and dignity,” he pleaded.
The municipality is now tired of land invasion, which he said is worse in areas such as Ezinketheni in Ward 30, Nhlakahle in Ward 28, Beacon Hill Farm in Ward 37, and Azalea Cemetery, “where people build houses on top of graves”.
“We are now having zero tolerance for land invasion, and we will do everything to stop it,” he said.
The budget presented included R10.36 billion in operating revenue, representing the income generated for daily administration and service delivery.
Additionally, it allocated R8.7 billion for operating expenditure, covering staff salaries and municipal operations, alongside R443 million in capital expenditures dedicated to the procurement of bulk water and electricity for public distribution.
bongani.hans@inl.co.za