Power & people
Reliable electricity — a Free State success story
Since about 2012, Frankfort and Mafube have worked with Rural Maintenance / Rural Free State to keep the lights on, modernise vending, and invest in the grid.
In much of rural South Africa, electricity can be a daily uncertainty. Frankfort’s experience shows another path: a long-term operating partnership that rebuilt infrastructure, tightened losses, expanded prepaid and online vending, and opened space for renewables — while creating local employment.
Roughly R120 million has gone into network and systems upgrades. Losses sit near 6%, collection has improved, and renewable capacity in the order of 4 MW+ forms part of the supply mix. The model has drawn positive attention in the sector, including commentary associated with NERSA discussions on distribution performance.
~R120 million infrastructure
Sustained capital investment in networks, metering and systems since the partnership began around 2012.
~6% losses
Technical and non-technical losses brought down to levels that compare well nationally — praised in regulatory conversations including NERSA.
Prepaid & online vending
Expanded prepaid electricity and online vending options make buying units simpler for households and small businesses.
Renewables ~4 MW+
Renewable generation capacity in the mix — part of a longer-term, cleaner energy story for Mafube.
Local jobs
Operations, maintenance and customer service create skilled work rooted in Frankfort and surrounding towns.
Better collection
Improved revenue collection funds further maintenance — a virtuous cycle of reliability.
Community & civic collaboration
Reliable services do not appear in isolation. Business and civic organisations help keep local government accountable and practical. The Mafube Business Forum (mafubebf.org) champions enterprise and partnership across the municipality.
Other community groups — including AfriForum as one organisation among several — have also pressed for functional local government and dependable municipal services. This page records that civic pressure as part of a broader, non-partisan story: residents and associations of different kinds wanting Frankfort to work.
The tone here is deliberate: proud of delivery, factual about partners, open to every residentwho shares the goal of a town that thrives on the Wilge.
