The DA in Tshwane is set to file a formal complaint with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) against the City of Tshwane for allegedly breaching the energy regulator’s licence conditions by failing to provide a reliable electricity supply to consumers.

This was announced by DA mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink on Thursday in Pretoria, who said the move by his party was meant to bring relief to beleaguered consumers and avert a total city’s electricity grid collapse.

This comes on the back of the prolonged power outages in East Lynne, where residents and businesses were plunged into darkness for two weeks due to the December 26 fire that damaged Koedoespoort substation.

Brink said: “We are preparing a formal complaint to NERSA in terms of Section 32 of the Energy Regulation Act. We believe that Tshwane is in breach of its NERSA licence conditions to provide a reliable supply of electricity. The complaint will be backed by the documented experiences of our councillors as well as the residents.”

He slammed the prolonged power outage in East Lynne, describing it as the longest in recent memory.

“Power has been off and on, but mostly off since 26 December. But East Lynne is by no means the only community suffering these outages. In fact, these outages started in November last year,” he said.

He revealed that the DA had previously warned of the dire situation and threatened to file a complaint with the energy regulator.

“It’s not something we do lightly, but we see no other way of getting an independent assessment of the electricity network that can inform budget decisions,” he said.

According to him, the electricity crisis stems from misplaced budget allocations, citing the February 2025 adjustment budget, which boosted spending on water tankers and security firms while neglecting basic infrastructure.

Brink also warned that Tshwane has plans in the pipeline to cut 5-10% of expenditure, saying “we fear that water and electricity will again be defunded”.

He alleged this move is linked to a deal struck by Tshwane deputy mayor Eugene Modise, who last year promised unions a backdated salary following a bargaining council ruling forcing the municipality to implement a 3.5% salary increase backdated to 2021.

“In the letter to trade union leaders dated 6 January 2026, the city proposes a R777 million settlement,” he said.

Brink said: “The nation’s capital is in deep financial trouble, but there are also steps that can be taken to prevent water and electricity from being defunded further,” he said.

The DA also announced that it has launched a city-wide online petition to address the power crisis.

This week Mayor Nasiphi Moya  tendered an apology to Tshwane residents for the crippling power outages. 

She acknowledged the “frustration and hardship” caused, assuring residents that the city is working with urgency to address the situation and restore stability to the electricity network.

According to her, the city’s Energy and Electricity Business Unit (EEBU) was this week expected to present a comprehensive plan to the mayoral committee to shore up vulnerable substations and priority parts of the network. 

“This plan will include measures to strengthen security at critical sites, address repeat faults, and reduce the risk of prolonged outages going forward. It will also address asset protection, recognising the impact of theft and vandalism on network stability and service delivery,” Moya said.

On Tuesday, Utility Services MMC Frans Boshielo said revealed the Koedoespoort substation’s repair has taken its toll on an ageing distribution cable, sparking widespread outages in East Lynne.

“Following the fire, the substation itself was repaired and returned to operation. However, the incident and subsequent restoration placed significant strain on an ageing distribution cable that carries electricity from the substation to multiple mini-substations in the area,” he said.

He said the 15km distribution cable, which serves a large area, has weakened sections due to age and condition.

Boshielo added that when it trips, EEBU teams have to locate the fault before fixing it, causing delays.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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