NMB politicians warn R7m electricity promise to informal settlement could break rules

Nelson Mandela Bay’s deputy mayor’s promises to assist the community of Grogro with electricity may have appeased the disgruntled residents of the informal settlement, but it has left various political leaders in Nelson Mandela Bay ill at ease about the possible backlash that could follow.

Community leaders were scheduled to meet municipal officials on Thursday afternoon to discuss when they can expect the temporary electricity connections promised by deputy mayor Gary van Niekerk earlier in the week.

Following protests and road closures that affected homes and businesses along Kragga Kamma Road last week, Van Niekerk’s engagements with the community have managed to deflect promises of violent protests and the ominous threat of “Plan B” should the community’s demands not be met. The community has yet to expand on what Plan B is. 

Several political parties have voiced their concerns about Van Niekerk’s promises – including temporary electricity and longer-term infrastructure development – saying it could lead to widespread unrest among other informal settlements and could even amount to irregular municipal expenditure.

Grogro residents took to the streets last week after their illegal electricity connections, to which the municipality has turned a blind eye for years, were disconnected. This led to protests that disrupted traffic and business in the western regions of Gqeberha, as well as violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement units.

Read more: NMB electricity crisis — illegal connection cut-offs spark Grogro residents’ anger

Following a series of discussions between municipal departments and negotiations with the owner of the private land on which Grogro is situated, the community has agreed to a tense peace treaty as it waits for the municipality to make good on its promises.

Read more: After decades in the dark, Gqeberha informal settlement is promised R7m electricity lifeline

The executive mayor’s chief of staff, Mlungisi Lumka, who was instrumental in the negotiations between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the community, said plans were in place to provide the community with temporary electricity services.

“The first step is to provide a transformer that can be installed on-site. Once we have secured the suitable equipment, we only need a signature from the executive director of energy and electricity, and we can go ahead with the short-term solution.

“However, the R7-million required to address longer-term requirements must first be approved by council. There is also the issue of ongoing negotiations with the landowner over the price he wants for that land.

“Only once these issues have been resolved can we start looking at the installation of infrastructure,” Lumka said.

When asked about electricity rates for the residents of Grogro and whether they would qualify for free or subsidised electricity under the city’s Assistance to the Poor Policy, Lumka said that would form part of the talks when long-term solutions were being planned.

Grogro community leader Zukile Futa said he and several other leaders were scheduled to meet city officials on Thursday afternoon. They would provide feedback to residents on the outcome of the meeting on Friday.

Worries over pledge

While political parties in the metro are all in agreement that the municipality is obliged to provide access to electricity and other basic services to its communities, several raised concerns over the R7-million that the municipality has pledged to Grogro.

Their overriding concern is that Nelson Mandela Bay’s electricity budget does not allow for services to be installed at Grogro.

In an agenda for the electricity and energy committee, dated 8 October, several “electrification programmes” have been identified for the 2025/26 financial year and are at various stages, ranging from preliminary design phases to near completion.

The projects are spread across the metro and include areas such as Kwanobuhle, Malabar, Joe Slovo, Bayland, Motherwell, Kuyga, McCarthy and Moeggesukkel.

Grogro does not appear on the list.

ACDP Eastern Cape provincial leader Lance Grootboom, who serves on the electricity and energy committee, said the installation of infrastructure at Grogro would be highly irregular.

“If Grogro were situated on municipal land, the situation would have been much different and much easier. But as it stands, the municipality will be committing irregular expenses if they install services on privately owned land.

“The second part to this issue is that electricity development in Grogro has not been budgeted for. Where will this R7-million come from? Will they now take services away from other equally deserving communities to keep their promises to Grogro?

“The current administration is playing political games, and it will cost the people of this metro dearly,” Grootboom said.

DA mayoral candidate Retief Odendaal echoed Grootboom.

“On top of that, has the municipality done the exercise of a development plan? Is that piece of land even suitable for a housing development? 

“At the end of the day, the only real solution is relocating that community to a more suitable location which has already been approved for development. But it seems the current administration is unwilling to make that difficult decision.”

Odendaal said he had sympathy for the residents of Grogro who had lived without services for decades, but any development on that land would take millions away from other communities in similar situations.

“The city has an obligation to provide its people with services, but it is also responsible to follow the correct channels and plan development accordingly,” Odendaal said.

‘Larger issue’

FF+ councillor Bill Harrington, who was among the first political officials to negotiate with the Grogro community, said the latest spate of protests was a symptom of a much larger issue that had been brewing for many years.

“This community openly admits it has been stealing electricity for years, and despite showing a willingness to pay for electricity, no plans have been made to provide them with legal services.

Harrington said Nelson Mandela Bay’s track record of hiring and firing city managers was a contributing factor to a major backlog in service delivery.

Earlier this month, Lonwabo Ngoqo was appointed as the Nelson Mandela Bay metro’s 18th acting city manager in 10 years. He is the 16th acting city manager since 2020. 

Read more: Take Two for Nelson Mandela Bay’s controversial new acting city manager

“Every time a new manager is appointed, they have to acquaint themselves with the city’s issues, then they are not in office long enough to do anything about it before the next person comes in and needs to start from scratch.

“That is why issues take so long to be addressed, and that is why it has taken more than 40 years to assist the community of Grogro,” Harrington said.

EFF provincial chair Zilindile Vena said Grogro was just one example of the current administration’s inability to provide communities with services and communicate with them effectively.

“The moment the municipality negotiated with the people, they came to an agreement for calm in the streets. The people want to be heard and they want government to take note of their plight.”

He said communities such as Grogro were taking note of the administration’s politics and tactics to gain votes ahead of upcoming elections. 

“People are not dumb; they can see what is going on. For years, nothing happens, then when they protest and threaten with violence, suddenly R7-million becomes available. Why wait until there are protests before you act?

“Large sums of money are sent back to the National Treasury, but services are not being rendered. Does the government think the people cannot see that?

“Being elected into power is like signing a contract with the people. You have not held up your end of the bargain, so why should the people renew your contract? Your term is coming to an end because you failed to meet the people’s needs,” Vena said. DM