Unraveling Repair and Ownership in South Africa's Electricity System

Title data

Jahn, Eileen:
Unraveling Repair and Ownership in South Africa's Electricity System.
2024
Event: Melbourne Climate Futures (MCF) Seminar Series , 13.03.2024 , University of Melbourne.
(Conference item: Lecture series , Speech with paper )

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This presentation delves into the intricate dynamics of electricity access, community ownership, and social relations in South Africa, drawing on research conducted in Winterveld, a town on the northwestern border of Gauteng Province. It sheds light on the various historical, social, and economic factors shaping the region's electricity landscape.

Focusing on the challenge of repair, the presentation examines the complexities of maintaining electricity services amidst financial constraints and social tensions. It explores the emergence of community-owned initiatives as potential solutions to address historical injustices, while also acknowledging the intricate dynamics of accountability and enforcement they create. By amplifying the perspectives of local residents, the presentation prompts reflection on the broader implications of repairing and reimagining electricity infrastructure in the Global South in the face of a climate-changed future.

Critical questions are raised about the role of community ownership, the equitable redistribution of electricity resources, and the decolonization of infrastructure frameworks. Emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift towards techno-social solutions, the presentation argues for approaches that address not only material needs but also the complex relational dynamics within communities.