uMngeni takes legal action against Msunduzi over power supply

The uMngeni Municipality has lodged an application in the High Court in an effort to resolve a long-running dispute over the supply of electricity to Hilton and surrounding areas. According to uMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas, the legal action follows years of service delivery challenges and uncertainty experienced by residents and businesses in the area. At the centre of the dispute is the continued supply of electricity to Hilton by the Msunduzi Municipality.

uMngeni maintains that Msunduzi is acting unlawfully by distributing electricity in Hilton because it does not hold a valid electricity distribution licence for the area. For the longest time, Hilton residents have endured ongoing service delivery failures, including outages, poor communication, and a lack of accountability. “Despite numerous engagements and attempts to resolve the matter through intergovernmental processes, the issues remain unresolved.

“The municipality has therefore taken the responsible step of seeking clarity and relief through the courts after declaring an intergovernmental dispute,” said Pappas. He added that the High Court application follows years of gathering documentation, researching the history of the electricity supply arrangement and documenting service disruptions affecting residents and that the court action is aimed at ensuring that electricity supply in Hilton is lawful, properly regulated and aligned with national legislation. “The objective is not conflict, but certainty, legality and reliable service delivery for our community,” said Pappas.