Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts in this claim come from
Every fact on the claim page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What does the evidence show?
Why it is Verified
Lost electricity is power the city paid for but could not sell, so it earned nothing back for it. The Auditor-General uses an accepted level of 7% to 10%. At 32%, the losses were more than three times the top of that range. The Auditor-General gave these figures to Parliament. Its 2024-25 report puts four years of losses at R2.18 billion, above the 10% norm in each year.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 18 February 2026.
Where to look: Slide 4, 'Financial planning and performance' column: 'Electricity losses (7% to 10%) 32% (R831,43 m)'
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Printed page 204 (PDF page 208), Buffalo City dashboard, 'Distribution losses over administration': 'Electricity losses R2,18bn (4 years more than 10% norm)'; printed page 205 (PDF page 209), paragraph 5: 'Losses of electricity and water remained high'
Parliamentary Monitoring Group. Published 18 February 2026.
Where to look: Discussion section: Mr Beesley raised 'electricity losses, which stood at 32%'; Mr Nteta said losses combine illegal connections and faults on the network, 'with the norm being 7 to 10%, making the 32% figure exceptionally high, equating to around R800 million'
What did the council do, and when?
Who ran the council
Mayor: Princess Faku (ANC). Council run by ANC. From Mar 2023 to present.
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Published 27 March 2023.
Where to look: Lead paragraph ('elected as the new Mayor of Buffalo City Metro during the Special Council meeting on Thursday evening 23 March 2023'); paragraph 2 ('takes over from Cllr Xola Pakati who resigned on Monday 20 March')
SABC News. Published 23 March 2023.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 (Faku elected; Pakati 'resigned on Monday'; the ANC PEC 'recalled Pakati two weeks ago citing poor audit outcomes, wasteful expenditure and failure to collect revenue'); paragraph 3 ('62 votes against the 22 for Bentley'); paragraph 5 (EFF did not vote). Paragraph 2 is a linked video title.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 22 November 2021.
Where to look: Page 3 of 4, seat table: 'AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS 61 43 18' (total, ward, PR seats); page 4: 'Total Party Seats 100 50 50'. Printed on 2021/11/22.
Daily Maverick. Published 1 October 2026.
Where to look: Buffalo City mayoral candidates section: 'The ANC has yet to confirm its candidate. The ANC has offered incumbent mayor Princess Faku, former deputy minister Nocawe Mafu, Simphiwe Dzengwa and Ncedo Kumbaca as its potential candidates.'
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