Komati, Mpumalanga - The silence left by the shutdown of the local power station in 2022 is more than just a drop in electricity output. It is the quiet of a community struggling to rebuild after losing its economic heartbeat.
Since the shutdown, approximately R7 billion has been channelled into Komati through the Eskom Just Energy Transition Project, backed by the World Bank, Canadian concessional finance, and ESMAP. Yet, despite this significant investment, the town’s 4600 residents have seen almost no tangible benefits in terms of sustainable employment or local economic revival.
Good Intentions, Slow Delivery
Over the past two years, dozens of consultants, researchers, and development partners have engaged with stakeholders, including Eskom, municipalities, civic groups, unions, and national agencies. Multiple committees and coordination bodies have been established,…
