Electricity in Johannesburg council, May to August 2026

Electricity chapters covered

This page covers 25 council chapters tagged with electricity across 5 sitting days, from 26 May 2026 to 26 August 2026. Only transcribed sittings are covered, and the electricity topic includes City Power, power outages, load reduction and streetlights.

The KfW loan for City Power

At the 51st Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting on 26 May 2026, Cllr Harris (ACDP) said City Power is in crisis, citing a R16 billion overdraft and R5.2 billion owed to Eskom. 26 May 00:41:27 Cllr Harris said the KfW loan would carry R616 million in interest and a R17.5 million upfront cost, and said the ACDP would not support the item. 26 May 00:41:27 Cllr Santana said the DA would support the loan after amended recommendations, including a two-year freeze on executive salary increases at City Power. 26 May 00:49:58

Cllr Thapelo Radebe said the ANC supports and approves the KfW loan as a foundation for electricity infrastructure for future generations. 26 May 01:00:02 26 May 00:41:27 MMC Masuku said the KfW loan is concessional and ring-fenced for City Power under KfW conditions in Annexures 2 and 8, and criticised ActionSA for voting against it. 26 May 01:01:36

Eskom substation cut-offs and debt

On 24 June 2026, council held an urgent debate on the current and continued threat by Eskom to switch off electricity to several substations. 24 Jun 01:03:52 Cllr Meyers (DA), the proposer, said Eskom plans to cut power to the Crowthorne, Allandale, Beyers Naude and Fordsburg substations over unpaid debt. 24 Jun 01:08:03 Cllr Meyers said the DA handed in a 5,000-signature petition, said Eskom extended the date to 17 July, and asked the executive to explain its plan to protect about 100,000 residents. 24 Jun 01:08:03

Cllr Boer (FF+) said the city's financial statements show the Eskom debt did not increase between 2024 and 2025, and asked why Johannesburg is in the news over a R5.3 billion debt. 24 Jun 01:10:29 Cllr Nkonyeni (ActionSA) asked what plan exists to pay the Eskom arrears and what guarantee residents have against being left without power in winter. 24 Jun 01:12:26 The Deputy Executive Mayor, Cllr Loyiso Masuku, said engagements with Eskom had been constructive and rejected Cllr Boer's claim that the payment agreement is unknown, since council approved it. 24 Jun 01:14:42

Cllr Loyiso Masuku said dedicated workstreams would be established between City Power and Eskom on turnaround actions, loss reduction, metering and City Power's financial sustainability. promise Cllr Loyiso Masuku also said City and City Power management would keep meeting Eskom to finalise outstanding matters, and that this would be done well before the applicable deadlines. promise

On 26 August 2026, in the chapter on the Deputy Executive Mayor's reply on Item 3, a speaker said Eskom had received the City's final payment settling the overdue debt of 5.255 billion in full. promise On 26 August 2026, during ANC remarks on the Section 71 reports, a speaker said the city and City Power had settled the historic 5.25 billion rand Eskom debt in full. promise An automated check linked 26 August remarks on settling the Eskom debt to Cllr Loyiso Masuku's 24 June promise to keep meeting Eskom before the applicable deadlines. promise promise promise

City Power trading reform items

Item 70, the City Power Trading Reform Strategy for 2026-27 and its Business Investment Plan, was approved on 24 June 2026 when the Speaker ruled by voice that the yeses had it. 24 Jun 05:00:25 24 Jun 05:13:13 The DA recorded its opposition to item 70 under Rule 84. 24 Jun 05:13:13 Cllr Steenkamp (DA) said the DA backs the objectives of item 70 but not the plan, citing unproven targets, thin treatment of Eskom risks and the lack of Section 79 scrutiny. 24 Jun 05:09:29

On item 70, Cllr Harris (ACDP) criticised R164 million spent on consultants and noted the report. 24 Jun 05:00:25 Cllr Khonkhobe (EFF) supported item 70, citing City Power's R44bn backlog, R3.1bn operating deficit and R5.7bn annual losses. 24 Jun 05:05:27 Cllr Boer (FF+) withdrew his speeches on items 70 and 72 because the reports had not served at Section 79. 24 Jun 05:00:25

On item 71, the trading reform programme, an ActionSA speaker called for rigorous council oversight of implementation, and the EFF called for results, accountability and regular reporting to council. 24 Jun 05:22:47 Item 73, the City Power Trading Reform Strategy 2026-27 (PIAP V2), was approved by voice, with the DA's opposition recorded under Rule 84. 24 Jun 05:56:19 Cllr Steenkamp (DA) opposed item 73, the City Power Trading Reform Strategy 2026-27 (PIAP V2), because it bypassed the Section 79 committee. 24 Jun 05:56:19 Item 85, the updated shareholder compacts of City Power, Joburg Water and Pikitup, was approved, and the DA recorded its opposition under Rule 84. 24 Jun 07:31:16

Losses, outages and street lights

In the budget debate on 28 May 2026, Cllr Zigebe (UDM) said the budget correctly identifies 44.7% water losses and 27% electricity losses. 28 May 02:34:49 Chair Mpolobosho (AHC) raised street lights, illegal connections in Regions E and A, and faulty transformers in Ward 80, and urged MMCs to speed up electrification of informal settlements. 28 May 01:43:09 Cllr Meyers (DA) questioned the lowered qualifications for the City Power CEO post and criticised plans on private solar users. 28 May 04:40:03 The budget debate on 28 May 2026 was adjourned for 10 minutes while IT dealt with a power problem in the chamber, and further delays followed while IT fixed sparking electrical equipment. 28 May 00:02:46

At the 52nd Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting on 22 July 2026, Cllr D. Steenkamp (DA) said outages take an average of about six days to resolve. 22 Jul 03:25:17 Cllr Boer (FF+) raised City Power capex of 45% in the EISD cluster debate on 22 July 2026. 22 Jul 03:25:17

GEF grant for solar and energy efficiency

On 26 August 2026, council agreed to accept Global Environment Facility grant funding of about US$3 million, with the DBSA as partner, for solar and energy efficiency work. 26 Aug 06:04:11 26 Aug 06:32:09 The co-financing commitment attached to the GEF grant was about US$6.5 million. 26 Aug 06:32:09 On item 6, the GEF grant, speakers from the ACDP, GOOD, UDM, DA and an ActionSA proxy raised concerns about co-financing from City Power, unfunded obligations, oversight and procurement. 26 Aug 06:04:11

MMC Sekwaila said the GEF grant fits the plan to turn City Power into an energy company and undertook to ensure the grant money is spent in line with its mission. 26 Aug 06:32:09 promise Cllr Boer said the FF+ would oversee spending of the GEF grant through the Section 79 EISD Committee. 26 Aug 06:32:09 promise