The South African Local Government Association SALGA has sounded the alarm over Eskom's proposed Distribution Agency Agreement DAA, saying it could be seen as a backdoor takeover of municipal electricity responsibilities, reports Cape town Etc .
While acknowledging the need for a reliable power supply and financial reform, SALGA has warned that Eskom's proposal, in its current form, may undermine the constitutional mandate of local government and weaken the accountability structures that keep municipalities answerable to their communities.
Electricity distribution, or reticulation, is a responsibility explicitly assigned to municipalities under Schedules 4B and 5B of the . Based on SALGA's statement, any deviation from this role must follow legal frameworks set out in the including public consultations, council resolutions, and feasibility assessments that align with each city's Integrated Development Plan IDP.