The South African government has announced new investments in smart metering infrastructure and electric vehicle manufacturing incentives as part of efforts to modernize the country’s economy and energy systems.
President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that a R2 billion grant has been established to fund the large-scale rollout of smart meters in municipalities across South Africa. The smart metering technology will enable improved monitoring and management of electricity usage, helping to reduce load shedding and blackouts resulting from power shortages.
“A new R2 billion grant has been established to fund the rollout of smart metres in municipalities, which will help to modernise our electricity system and reduce load shedding,” he said.
“A generous incentive will be introduced to support the manufacturing of electric vehicles from 2026 onwards, as part of our commitment to position South Africa as a leading player in the green economy.”
The president also outlined plans to introduce generous incentives starting in 2026 to spur local manufacturing of electric vehicles in South Africa. The country aims to become a major hub for electric vehicle and green technology production.
Critics argue more urgent action is needed to address load shedding in the short-term. However, Ramaphosa emphasized the measures will ultimately strengthen energy security and reliability over the coming years.
