Stellenbosch Municipality is in the process of determining how just over R6 million of grant funding allocated to alleviating the impact of loadshedding, will be utilised. This was according to Stuart Grobbelaar, communication manager at Stellenbosch Municipality.
“A council item that will include the Energy Master Plan, to provide details on the findings of these studies and what exactly our short- and long-term plans entail, will be served before open council at the next council meeting on 29 March 2023,” confirmed Grobbelaar via email correspondence with MatieMedia.
“Stellenbosch Municipality wants to assure all residents that any decisions taken around our alternative energy solutions will serve before open council. Above initiatives will be implemented in stages to ensure it is affordable and does not place undue stress on our budget,” communicated by Stuart Grobbelaar in correspondence with MatieMedia. Information provided by Stuart Grobbelaar. INFOGRAPHIC: Thameenah Daniels
A total of R6.175 million had been allocated to the municipality by the Western Cape Provincial Government, with the aim to find loadshedding solutions for Stellenbosch, according to minutes from the Stellenbosch Municipality meeting minutes.
The grant has been received after a request from the municipality, according to the minutes of the Stellenbosch Municipal meeting that occurred on 22 February. The municipality has until 30 June to spend the grant.
This grant was made available by the Western Cape government to provide additional generators to ensure that critical services like water supply is protected for residents amidst the escalating load-shedding crisis, Leon Schreiber, the DA’s spokesperson for public services and administration, told MatieMedia.
Stellenbosch Municipality’s next Municipal Meeting is scheduled for 29 March 2023. PHOTO: Thameenah Daniels
Conflict among political parties in attendance
Meanwhile, it is believed that conflict around the grant money arose between political parties after the recent Stellenbosch Municipal meeting.
Following the meeting, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Stellenbosch posted a statement on Facebook claiming that the Patriotic Alliance (PA), GOOD and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supported loadshedding as these parties opposed the vote to accept the grant.
“These parties did so by opposing a proposal contained in the 2022/2023 adjustment budget to accept nearly R6.2 million allocated to an Emergency Municipal Loadshedding Relief Grant,” Schreiber said.
However, in written communication with MatieMedia, Nazier Paulsen, EFF member of parliament, explained that his party was concerned that the money would only serve the goals of the DA.
The streets of Stellenbosch central during stage 4 loadshedding, leaving the area in complete darkness. VIDEO: Thameenah Daniels