City power Energy Indaba a resounding success
The City Power Energy Indaba 2025 concluded on Wednesday, October 29, at the Marriott Hotel in Melrose Arch, marking the end of two days of robust discussions, collaboration, and forward-thinking ideas that will shape Johannesburg’s energy future. One of the key issues discussed throughout the Indaba was the urgent need to address energy poverty and ensure that electricity becomes accessible and affordable to all residents, with young people leading some of those discussions.
The two-day Indaba was officially opened by the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, who called for a shift from an energy system defined by scarcity and inequality to one grounded in shared ownership, participation, and justice. He reminded delegates that “the transition must not only focus on technology, but also on the social and economic transformation of communities historically excluded from energy access and opportunity.”
City Power Board Chairperson, Mr. Makhosini Kharodi, who was also part of the deliberations, emphasised that the Indaba was not just a talkshop, but a forum where plans would be turned into implementable programmes that change how Johannesburg is powered and how communities live.
Delivering her closing remarks, City Power CEO, Ms. Tshifularo Mashava, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all partners, delegates, and participants who contributed to what she described as “a milestone in redefining Johannesburg’s energy story.”
The CEO reflected on the key takeaways from the two-day engagement, emphasising the collective responsibility to keep the cost of electricity as low as possible while expanding access and modernising the grid.
She reaffirmed City Power’s commitment to an inclusive and affordable energy transition, driven by innovation, collaboration, and smart technologies.
“As we close this chapter of the Energy Indaba, our work begins in earnest. The ideas shared here, on digitisation, renewable integration, and human capital development will inform how we power Johannesburg’s future. We now have the task of making sure that we work towards making access to energy affordable, sustainable, and reliable energy for every resident,” said Ms. Mashava.
She added that City Power’s transformation journey from a traditional electricity distributor to a modern energy service provider has gained momentum through initiatives such as grid modernisation, energy storage investments, and the rollout of Intelligent Distribution Systems (IDS), designed to improve supply reliability, reduce technical losses, and enhance customer satisfaction through digital innovation.
The Indaba also featured rich panel discussions that explored the intersection of technology, policy reform, and innovation in driving the just energy transition.
Delegates unpacked opportunities around renewable integration, grid modernisation, artificial intelligence, and smart city readiness, highlighting the need for collaboration between government, business, and communities in building a resilient energy ecosystem.
City of Johannesburg Smart City Leader, Mr. Lawrence Boya, reminded delegates that building a smart city begins with fixing the fundamentals, which include reliable energy, roads, and sanitation.
The conversations and commitments made during this year’s Indaba will continue to guide our strategic priorities, which are centred around affordability, innovation, and a just transition that leaves no one behind.