Deputy Minister of Energy and Electricity Alexandra Abramham held a meeting with the University of Cape Town's Power Futures Lab to conduct an academic assessment of the South African power sector and determine the necessary steps for long-term sustainability.
The Power Futures Lab specializes in conducting data-driven research concerning investments, regulation, and the development of the energy sector in Africa and other emerging economies.
Abramham emphasized that any policy development must answer two fundamental questions: will it help ensure stable power supply for more people and businesses, and will it make electricity more affordable?
She added that there is a significant volume of generation investments in South Africa that still needs to be activated. Abramham believes that removing administrative barriers is critical for increased competition to exert downward pressure on electricity costs.
The Deputy Minister noted that the success of the energy transformation program largely depends on implementation discipline, and she expects continued interaction with industry stakeholders.
During this meeting, the functioning level of the power supply system was examined, as well as issues of grid access, municipal distribution, regulatory environment, and expansion of transmission and electricity markets.
This meeting demonstrates the Deputy Minister's commitment to basing her policy decisions and positions on reliable data, sound information, and the practical experience of specialists working directly in the field.
Abramham stated that the transition to using electricity must bring tangible improvements to people's lives and allow businesses to reduce costs, grow, and create jobs. She stressed that achieving this goal requires clear policy decisions, competent institutions, transparent execution, and strong political oversight.
The international conference WISA 2026 will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from July 22 to 24, 2026. The event will bring together delegates from the water sector under the theme 'Rethinking Amanzi – Securing Our Future.'
Against the backdrop of water supply infrastructure, service provision, and long-term water security remaining priorities in South Africa's national agenda, the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) is organizing a three-day conference that will attract over 2000 specialists.
The conference follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's launch of several water supply programs and announcements of new commitments in water infrastructure, jointly with Vice President Paul Mashatile. Ramaphosa pledged R156 billion for water supply and sanitation infrastructure over the next three years. He also warned that municipalities and officials who fail to properly manage water services could face legal consequences, as the government intensifies efforts to combat the escalating water crisis in South Africa.
Ramaphosa noted that these investments are part of a broader strategy aimed at increasing water accessibility in underserved communities and addressing water insecurity. The conference program will begin on Wednesday, July 22, with an opening address by Ian Palmer, Chairman of the WISA Organizing Committee, followed by a presentation from Dr. Lester Goldman, CEO of WISA, and an official opening by Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina.
Deputy Ministers David Makhubo and Dr. Jack Bloom, as well as Dr. Shaun Phillips, CEO of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), will also be present. A keynote speech will be delivered by the President of the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO), Refilwe Buthelezi (Pr. Eng), who will call on water resource experts to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution in water use, focusing on rethinking governance, technology, and investment in Africa's water future.
The technical program includes over 80 sessions across specialized tracks, workshops, and high-level meetings. Topics under discussion cover microplastics, groundwater sustainability and managed aquifer recharge, including the Cape Flats aquifer, as well as climate resilience, droughts, floods, alternative water supply services, and water infrastructure upgrades.
Furthermore, the conference has scheduled a high-level panel discussion on water sector financing, meetings with the Department of Water and Sanitation, consultative sessions related to the UN Water Conference in 2026, and sessions from the Commission for Water Research, focused on South Africa's agenda for water research and innovation.
Goldman emphasized that the water sector challenges in South Africa cannot be solved by one organization alone. He stated that as pressure on water resources grows, collaboration between different disciplines and institutions becomes critically important. WISA 2026 provides a valuable opportunity for the sector to exchange experiences, showcase innovations, and find practical ways to improve water security and service delivery. Goldman added that the necessary knowledge, innovation, and commitment to improving South Africa's water future already exist within the sector, and the collective task is to accelerate the implementation of good ideas to achieve tangible results.
Ian Palmer noted that in these complex times, countries are restructuring, and international cooperation organizations are losing legitimacy amid climate instability. There is economic, social, and political uncertainty at the national level, which affects the capacity of key state institutions in the water sector, including local authorities. In Palmer's view, water professionals need to act, and holding meetings to present new ideas and discuss sector challenges is necessary. He concluded that WISA 2026 serves as an important platform for such interactions, being a flagship event for the South African water community and international water resource specialists interested in the region.
According to GoSolr, consumers in South Africa are facing rising electricity tariffs and fixed bills, which undermines energy-saving efforts and reduces the appeal of using solar systems.
The electricity crisis in South Africa has entered a new phase: households are suffering not only from power outages but increasingly from rising costs. This makes reducing electricity consumption a less effective way to lower monthly bills.
GoSolr's latest quarterly report, titled Light Paper, warns that the country's energy problem has transformed into an accessibility crisis caused by tariff hikes, increased fixed charges, and inconsistent municipal pricing structures.
The report states that electricity tariffs have increased by over 1100% since 2007. To this have been recent price increases from Eskom of 8.76%, followed by another 8.83%. Municipal customers often pay even more after local surcharges are applied.
GoSolr notes that one of the most serious issues is the sharp rise in fixed charges. This means consumers are forced to pay significant amounts just to be connected to the grid, regardless of how much electricity they consume.
The report emphasized that reducing electricity consumption no longer guarantees substantial savings, especially for small businesses and middle-income households who are already under financial strain. Furthermore, electricity bills do not reflect the full cost of the entire South African energy system.
In addition to the cost of consumed electricity, consumers indirectly finance grid infrastructure, system losses, electricity theft, unpaid bills, emergency diesel generation, and various municipal surcharges. Many families also incur extra costs due to backup power sources, damaged equipment, and reduced productivity during power interruptions.
Andrew Middleton, CEO of GoSolr, stated that South Africa's power supply system remains strained despite improvements in supply stability. He noted: 'South Africa's energy system is under pressure, but it is not hopeless.'
Middleton believes that the current situation is a result of outdated pricing models that aim to maintain the status quo and protect revenue, rather than adapting to the rapidly changing energy landscape. Although there have been fewer outages in South Africa in recent months, Middleton cautioned that stability itself is not a success if electricity continues to become less accessible.
He added: 'The system is currently sending wrong signals, encouraging inefficiency and punishing progress, while subtly redefining electricity as something not everyone can afford.'
The report revealed significant differences between municipalities, indicating that inconsistent tariff structures create inequality across the country. Cape Town was mentioned as an example of a relatively balanced approach with moderate increases in fixed charges and an optional time-of-use tariff structure. Meanwhile, Johannesburg was presented as an example of how pricing structures can put consumers at a disadvantage, as some households reported fixed charges of up to 1761 South African Rand per month before consuming a single unit of electricity.
GoSolr also warns that current pricing structures may discourage the installation of rooftop solar panels and battery storage when South Africa should be encouraging broader distributed power generation. The company argues that penalizing customers who invest in self-generation could contribute to what they call a 'slow price spiral decline,' where reduced consumption forces utilities to further raise tariffs to recoup revenue.
To address accessibility, GoSolr calls for greater transparency in electricity pricing, a clear separation of infrastructure and consumption costs, standardized rules for embedded generation, and reforms to municipal financing models that reduce reliance on electricity sales. Middleton concluded that South Africa has a chance to build a more resilient and inclusive energy system if policymakers align incentives with changing consumer behavior.
