Unused Solar Geysers Gather Dust in Lusaka Hall Amidst Calls for Accountability
- Karen Scheepers
- May 16
- 3 min read
At an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting on 8 May 2025 at Lusaka Hall in the JB Marks Municipality, residents from Wards 4, 16, and 19 were shocked to discover hundreds of boxed solar water-heating systems occupying the entire hall space, forcing attendees to sit outside in the cold. These geysers, originally intended for installation in low-income households under a national programme, have instead gathered dust for years
This revelation has prompted a renewed call by the Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus for urgent municipal accountability, including a full audit, installation progress report, and immediate action to deliver the long-delayed benefits to the intended recipients.
The National Solar Water Heater Programme: A Brief Overview
Launched in 2010, the National Solar Water Heater Programme (NSWHP) was designed to install five million solar geysers by 2030, with a particular focus on underserved, low-income communities. By reducing electricity usage in households, the initiative aimed to relieve pressure on the national power grid, lower municipal Eskom bills, and cut household energy costs while promoting environmental sustainability.
By the 2018/2019 financial year, the Department of Energy had procured more than 87,000 units for distribution across 19 municipalities, including JB Marks. However, implementation challenges have meant that many of these geysers remain uninstalled.
Delays, Storage, and Fruitless Expenditure
In the case of JB Marks, several hundred solar water-heating units remain unused inside Lusaka Hall. Photographs from the scene show dusty cylindrical tanks, collapsed cardboard boxes marked “Glass Vacuum Tube,” and steel frames piled haphazardly, pointing to years of neglect.
The situation has implications beyond inconvenience: exposure to dust, weather, or theft could render many units unusable, undermining their original purpose. Permanent security guards have been stationed at the hall since at least 2018 to protect the equipment, an added cost to the municipality. Nationally, storage costs for unused geysers have exceeded R300 million.
DA’s Push for Action and Transparency
In response to the ongoing inaction, the DA caucus in JB Marks has called on the Executive Mayor and Municipal Manager to urgently investigate the matter and present a detailed report to the municipal council.
Their requests include:
An audit to verify the current stock and condition of all stored units;
A report detailing how many geysers were installed, where, and by whom;
A transparent installation schedule prioritizing indigent elderly households;
Disciplinary or contractual action against those responsible for implementation delays;
Engagement with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to release any remaining funds and support training for local installers.
The DA Councilor also informed this publication that they had, in 2019, provide a list of beneficiaries and job candidates for the installation phase. They further stated that ward councillors in Ikageng agreed the programme should begin by serving the elderly. A detailed list of qualifying homes was submitted to municipal authorities that same year, but the process has remained stalled since.
Environmental and Economic Impact at Stake
Each solar geyser installed could significantly reduce a household's reliance on electricity, lowering monthly costs and contributing to the municipality’s broader climate commitments. The units are not only a means of social upliftment but are also essential tools in JB Marks’ energy-efficiency strategy.
Without timely installation, these benefits are lost. Residents continue to rely on electricity, gas, or wood to heat water, incurring higher costs and reinforcing energy poverty.
The discovery at Lusaka Hall is more than a logistical oversight, it highlights the broader inefficiencies that can derail well-intended public programmes. As winter grips Ikageng, questions grow louder: Why are geysers collecting dust while households go without hot water? Who will be held accountable for the delays? And how soon will action follow?
Beyond the loss of essential energy-saving benefits, residents have voiced deep frustration over the long-term use of their local hall as a storage facility. Speaking to the DA caucus, they shared that Lusaka Hall, meant to serve as a vital community space, has been effectively out of use for years. Important events such as weddings, funerals, and community meetings could not be hosted at the venue due to the presence of the solar geysers, further limiting its role as a shared civic resource.
For now, the community continues to wait, for warmth, for restored access to their hall, and for the fulfilment of promises tied to the solar geyser programme.
All information and photos was provided by Johan Zerwick – DA Councillor
Link to the DA Publication: https://nw.da.org.za/2025/05/unused-solar-geysers-collect-dust-in-lusaka-hall-while-households-suffer
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