Vodacom Business says its smart meter projects in South African municipalities created about 650 jobs by the 2026 financial year. The work falls under National Treasury’s RT29-2024 transversal contract.
According to the company, about 500 jobs had been created by the 2025 financial year. It said smart water meter installations grew to about 147,600, up from about 137,600 the year before.
“Modernising municipal infrastructure is not only about introducing new technology, but about giving municipalities better tools to manage essential services and respond to the needs of their communities,” said Videsha Proothveerajh, Director of Vodacom Business.
Proothveerajh said RT29 offers a practical way for the public and private sectors to work together. She said it helps municipalities move to newer systems.
Vodacom Business works with two partners on the projects. Ontec supplies the smart meters and utility management systems. Macrocomm helps with installation, community engagement and skills training.
Vodacom Business said it provides the network connection, the internet of things equipment, the data platforms and the analysis tools. The company said the meters give more accurate readings. It said they also help councils find leaks, losses, tampering and illegal connections faster.
In Sol Plaatje Local Municipality in the Northern Cape, more than 15,000 smart electricity meters were installed in fewer than 80 days, the company said. About 85 local residents were hired and trained to install the meters and manage the systems.
In Naledi Local Municipality in North West, more than 6,000 smart meters have been put in. Vodacom Business said the meters track power use as it happens and pick up tampering and illegal connections.
The company said this helped Naledi cut its electricity losses from 26% to 5%. It said that figure is in line with the national norm.
According to Vodacom Business, illegal connections, meter tampering and old equipment eat into the money councils need to run and grow basic services. It said accurate billing and live usage data help municipalities collect more of the money owed to them.
In the City of Tshwane, the company said smart water systems are helping municipal teams see more of the water network. It said this helps them find leaks and water losses sooner.
Vodacom said its water platform gives municipalities an online dashboard that shows the whole water network in real time. It said the dashboard helps staff quickly spot leaks, burst pipes and illegal connections, which reduces wasted water.
The company said residents in the project areas gain hands-on work experience and technical skills. It said councils also get a clearer picture of how their services are being used.
“Digital innovation is no longer optional for municipalities, but essential,” Proothveerajh said. “When we combine technology with community employment, we’re not just fixing infrastructure; we’re building local capacity and economic resilience.”
The latest projects follow earlier smart meter work in Sol Plaatje, Naledi, Mogale and Matzikama. Vodacom Business said the wider RT29 programme also supports the City of Mbombela, Thabazimbi Local Municipality and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Business Report. Image: IOL Business Report. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.