Continued Improvement in Municipal Water and Electricity Services through Intelligent Upgrades

Vodacom Business is actively contributing to the modernization of municipal electricity and water services throughout South Africa by participating in National Treasury’s RT29-2024 transversal contract – a 36-month initiative set to conclude at the end of May 2027.

This program is creating tangible effects on smart infrastructure development, service delivery, and local job creation.

Through the RT29 projects, approximately 650 jobs were generated by FY2026, an increase from around 500 in FY2025, while the deployment of smart water meters rose to about 147,600 from 137,600 the prior year.

In collaboration with Ontec and Macrocomm, Vodacom Business is assisting participating municipalities in deploying smart technologies that:

• Enhance the accuracy of utility readings;
• Offer greater visibility across electricity and water networks; and
• Quickly detect issues such as leaks, losses, tampering, and illegal connections.

Vodacom Business supplies the connectivity, IoT infrastructure, data platforms, and analytics that support these solutions; Ontec provides smart metering and utility management solutions; while Macrocomm facilitates implementation, community engagement, and skills development.

‘Not just about the tech’

“Upgrading municipal infrastructure isn’t solely about introducing new technology; it’s also about equipping municipalities with better tools to manage essential services and address community needs,” states Videsha Proothveerajh, director of Vodacom Business.

“RT29 presents a practical model for merging public and private sector capabilities to assist municipalities in making that transition.”

The positive impact is already being experienced on the ground.

Power

In Sol Plaatje Local Municipality in the Northern Cape, over 15,000 smart electricity meters were installed in less than 80 days, employing and training approximately 85 local residents in smart meter installation and systems management.

In Naledi Local Municipality in North West, more than 6,000 smart meters have been deployed, aiding in improved revenue protection and operational efficiency.

The rollout has been effective in identifying electricity losses through real-time consumption monitoring and detecting tampering and illegal connections, leading to a decrease in electricity losses from 26% to 5%.

This type of revenue protection is significant beyond individual municipalities.

Illegal electricity connections, meter tampering, and deteriorating infrastructure can diminish the funds needed to maintain and expand essential services. Smart metering directly addresses these issues: real-time tampering detection, accurate billing, and comprehensive consumption data empower municipalities to enhance revenue collection.

Water

In the City of Tshwane, smart water management solutions are providing municipal teams with improved visibility across water networks, enabling them to identify leaks and water losses more quickly.

Vodacom’s water management platform offers municipalities a web-based digital dashboard that delivers real-time visibility throughout entire water distribution networks, fostering a measurable reduction in water wastage through swift identification of leaks, bursts, and illegal connections.

This data-driven approach is assisting municipalities in better managing water resources and responding swiftly to network issues.

These deployments build on prior smart metering initiatives in the Sol Plaatje, Naledi, Mogale, and Matzikama local municipalities, while the broader RT29 program continues to support Buffalo City metro as well as Mbombela, Thabazimbi, and Kgetlengrivier local municipalities, among others.

Ripple effect

The impact for communities extends beyond the mere installation of new infrastructure.

This program creates opportunities for local residents to acquire practical experience and technical skills, while municipalities achieve enhanced visibility of their utility networks and better insight into service usage.

For municipalities, such digital innovation is increasingly a necessity rather than an option, as deployments demonstrate the possibilities when appropriate partners and platforms unite to modernize the delivery of essential services.

As the rollout progresses, the insights gained from participating municipalities are showcasing how connected infrastructure can facilitate more responsive utility management while providing avenues for local economic engagement.

“Digital innovation is no longer optional for municipalities; it is essential,” remarks Proothveerajh.

“By combining technology with community employment, we aren’t just repairing infrastructure; we’re fostering local capacity and economic resilience.”

Brought to you by Vodacom Business.

Moneyweb does not endorse any product or service being advertised in sponsored articles on our platform.