AMEU pledges to provide more support to municipalities and drive transformation 
28-10-2014

 

The Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities of Southern Africa (AMEU) should be used as a catalyst that drives transformation and should further provide much-needed support to municipalities, says newly-elected AMEU President, Sicelo Xulu.

 

Xulu is also Managing Director of City Power. He was elected as the new AMEU President at the organization’s 64th Convention held in Johannesburg between 5 and 8 October this year. He succeeds Hannes Roos, whom he praised for growing the AMEU “to a force to be reckoned with”. 

 

Xulu says the electricity generation sector is still predominantly male-dominated and he committed himself to increasing the number of women participation in the industry and will foster the inclusion of active participation and to make the organisation more relevant to municipalities during his tenure.

 

“Women still play a miniscule role in this sector and I believe that this needs to change. My objective is to make women, particularly African women, play a critical role in the electricity supply industry. Driving transformation and fast tracking women’s advancement in this sector will not be easy. It requires political will and a firm undertaking to change the composition of this sector,” he says.

 

On AMEU's relevance to municipalities, Xulu points out that the association needs to play an active role and become the voice of municipalities through lobbying on their behalf and playing an advisory role.

 

He adds: “It is important that we increase membership of AMEU, particularly among rural and small municipalities. Municipalities also need to come to the party and play their role as well. They need to root out corruption and maladministration in their midst. They should demonstrate a firm commitment to good corporate governance and apply zero tolerance to corruption without fear or favour.’’

 

He emphasises that municipalities need to deliver on their mandates and become “diligent servants of their communities”.

 

Xulu will occupy the position for two years. A former Senior Technologist at Eskom, Xulu joined City Power in 2002 and held various senior positions in the utility including General Manager for Capital Execution and Director for Engineering Services before he was appointed Managing Director in November 2012. 

 

Xulu has a B Sc (Hon) degree in Applied Sciences and Electronics. He also has a B-Tech degree in electrical engineering and National Diploma in Electrical Engineering.