Energy and vision to put an end to City's reliance on Eskom over time

25 November 2021

With almost three decades of experience working her way up the ladder in public service, the City of Cape Town’s newly appointed Mayoral Committee Member for Energy and Climate Change, Beverley van Reenen, knows how to make positive changes happen in the communities she’s served. And the number one change she would like to see? Ending the City’s sole reliance on Eskom over time and helping the City in its efforts to enable and drive cleaner, more affordable and secure energy supply for all its residents and generations to come.

'My vision is to work progressively toward ending load-shedding in Cape Town. We can break Eskom’s energy monopoly by ensuring the City is in a position to procure energy directly from independent power producers and by generating own supply. This is the single biggest objective that my team and I will be working on over the course of my term. In addition, we will look to invest in our existing infrastructure such as the Steenbras Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme (SHPSS) to ensure it continues to soften the blow of Eskom’s load-shedding. The City is known for the protection it affords to its customers and we are looking to build on this.

'Our country is in its fourteenth year of load-shedding and every day that passes by, we edge closer to a full-blown energy crisis. Cape Town must do everything in its power to avoid this. We must find ways to protect ourselves from the failing Eskom with its crumbling infrastructure. We must put pressure on national government to allow independent power producers to power our economy and we must invest in smart and renewable energy to protect our environment for future generations. I, together with the City, have a vision for Cape Town to be an energy secure city that is able to provide uninterrupted supply of electricity to residents and businesses, and cheaper and cleaner energy at that.

'I am both humbled and grateful for the opportunity handed to me by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, my party and, most importantly, the people of Cape Town. I do not take my appointment to this important portfolio lightly. I am fully aware of the task ahead of me and I am fully prepared to ensure that we reach our objectives. My team and I will be working hard to ensure these visions become reality,' said Councillor van Reenen.

• Diversifying Cape Town’s energy mix and ending load-shedding over time
• Enhancing access to cleaner, safer and more affordable energy sources for vulnerable residents
• Building Cape Town’s resilience and making Cape Town stronger through enabling and driving climate action
• Enhancing a customer-centric and reliable energy service provision
• Focus on electricity vandalism and illegal connections to help shine the spotlight on this scourge
• Energy efficiency

Councillor van Reenen started her political career in her community of Elsies River and the broader Bellville South areas. She began as an Executive Personal Assistant and worked her way through various roles before being elected as the Ward Councillor for Ward 25 in 2014.

‘I served as the Chairperson of Area North Portfolio Committee between 2018 and 2019 and subsequently served as the Chairperson of the Human Settlements Portfolio between 2019 and 2021. In 2018, I was elected Chairperson of the Municipal Innovations and Information Technology Working Group at the South African Local Government Association (Salga),' said Councillor van Reenen on her roles, responsibilities and rise through the ranks.
 
Councillor van Reenen is a wife; and mother of two, and has two grandsons. She is passionate about children and an advocate for youth development. Van Reenen credits her grandmother, who raised her while her parents worked and at the same time worked as a cleaner at the nearby municipal buildings, with shaping and inspiring her.

‘She instilled values of integrity and resilience within me. She taught me to stand firm, never back off from a challenge and to work hard in everything that I aim to achieve. And I remember those lessons daily as I consider my newest and biggest task yet,' said Councillor van Reenen.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office