Umzimkhulu Local Municipality Integrated National Electrification Programme

uMzimkhulu Municipality is a local municipality in the southern part of KwaZulu-Natal. It is one of four (4) local municipalities of the Harry Gwala District Municipality. Approximately 90.8% of the population is un-urbanised and resides in rural areas, with backlogs of 4 355 households without access to electricity in 2013/14. The purpose of this case study is to illustrate the impact of the DBSA frontloading through the integrated national electrification programme (INEP) in the uMzimkhulu LM. The primary objective is to showcase how the programme benefitted the rural communities while transforming lives permanently. This was achieved through the INEP and partnerships with other stakeholders. The programme has linkages to other local developments in the community such as an increase in access to affordable energy, stimulating economic development and entrenching a culture of learning. From 2011 to 2016, the Bank bridge financed Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIG) and Integrated National Electrification Program (INEP) allocations for several municipalities to the value of R20 million. The frontloading was aimed at accelerating infrastructure roll out thereby increasing access to services and reducing backlogs, stimulating local economies and creating opportunities for jobs. uMzimkhulu is chosen as a case study for the roll out of INEP allocations because of the combined impact that the project has had on the beneficiary communities and the linkages of the project to other local developments in the community.

Unemployment is high and poverty way above both provincial and national levels. In 2015 the DBSA approved the bridging of the municipality’s future INEP allocations to accelerate the electrification for the households. In addition to the reduction of the electrification backlogs through improved access to electricity, the bridging of the INEP allocations was aimed at reducing poverty and creating safe spaces in the communities.