R5.5 billion to tackle people who do not pay for water and electricity in South Africa

The South African government has allocated a significant R5.5 billion to its municipal smart meter rollout plan, with an additional R3.5 billion to be added to the existing R2 billion allocation. This funding boost comes after successful revenue collection efforts in select municipalities, such as Sol Plaatje, Kannaland, and Bela Bela, which have demonstrated the potential for increased municipal efficiency. The allocation aims to address inefficiencies in municipal operations, where most municipalities struggle to balance day-to-day spending with running costs.