EMALAHLENI – On March 14, 2025, residents of Ward 21, along with neighbouring wards, expressed mixed feelings about the recent installation of smart meters by the eMalahleni municipality.
While the community acknowledges the potential benefits of the smart meters, they have raised significant concerns regarding high consumption readings, technical errors, and a lack of proper support. As a result, they are calling for the immediate removal of the meters until these issues are addressed.
In response to growing complaints, the municipality held a meeting with Conlog, the service provider appointed by the National Treasury. During the meeting, several irregularities were uncovered, further fuelling the community’s dissatisfaction.
One of the main frustrations is the inability to get assistance when contacting the hotline number listed on the meters, with many residents reporting that their calls go unanswered.
Although the community supports the concept of smart meters, they are urging the municipality to pause the installation, resolve the existing technical issues, and communicate the process clearly to the residents. They are also requesting proper education on how the meters work and how to resolve any future issues before reinstalling them.
In an effort to address the ongoing issues, the municipality has established a dedicated call centre specifically for smart meter-related concerns. The centre will operate weekdays from 7:30 AM to 10 PM, and from 8 AM to 10 PM on weekends, providing residents with support to address their complaints and assist with any technical difficulties.
Despite this new initiative, the community’s frustration remains high, and they continue to demand the removal of the meters until the issues are fully resolved.
For now, the community’s sole demand is the removal of the smart meters until the municipality has addressed their concerns, fixed the technical problems, and ensured the system is fully functional and supported.
