In Tshwane, DA Mayor Randall Williams tabled a proposal to end load shedding – with the potential of creating 30 000 new jobs.
We are committed to shielding residents from the failing national government and Eskom.
Common questions concerning the City of Tshwane public participation lease report regarding power generation in the City
Due to the level of interest in the public participation report that served at Tuesday’s Council meeting, we felt it appropriate to put together some recurring questions with answers.
- Is the report that served on Tuesday a tender?
No, the report that served at Council on Tuesday was a public participation report pertaining to a proposal received by a consortium that wished to lease the land on which the City’s power stations are located to install gas turbines.
The title of the report was “The proposed lease of a portion of portion 1 of the farm Rooiwaal 270-JR, a portion of the remainder of portion 6 and 22 of the farm Pretoria Town and Townlands 351 – R”.
- What does the amount of R26 billion relate to?
As contained in the proposal, the project would attract an estimated direct investment value of R26 billion over the long term. The City is not spending this money.
- What would it cost the City?
There were no financial cost implications for the City in this report. It merely aimed to gauge public sentiment on the proposal. The City is not seeking to procure anything.
- What was the purpose of the report?
The report would make the proposal public and effectively allow the residents of Tshwane to comment on the merits of the proposal. This would ensure that the City makes a carefully informed decision on this process. It would also align with the legislative processes that are required of the City to evaluate and assess such proposals.
- Has the City received similar proposals before?
The City has not received proposals on the leasing of land around its power stations. However, it has received various proposals over the years by residents or businesses that are interested in leasing land. Recently, the Mayoral Committee deliberated on a request to lease land in Hammanskraal to develop a private hospital.
- Why are the power stations not functioning?
The Pretoria West and Rooiwal power stations have not been in use since 2014. They are over 70 years old, and they and they have aged and are becoming obsolete. It would require a significant amount of capital investment in order for them to become fully operational again.
- What benefits does this report have for the City?
While the report currently only seeks to engage the public on the proposed lease, the investment as a whole aims to significantly alter energy generation in Tshwane. It would add 800 megawatts to the City’s grid, and would help to decrease the City’s dependency on Eskom and ultimately lead to the end of load-shedding.
