Issue
The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) is outraged regarding the delayed reconnection of electricity at its Pretoria Campus following a disconnection by the City of Tshwane.

Background
Electricity supply to the NLSA’s Pretoria Campus was disconnected by City of Tshwane officials on Thursday, 15 January 2026, on the basis of alleged non-payment.

The NLSA confirms that its electricity account is not, and has never been, in arrears. Proof of the January 2026 payment was submitted to the City on the day of disconnection, and an official reference number for reconnection was issued.

Details
Despite confirmation that all financial obligations had been met and repeated engagements with the City, electricity supply was only restored four (4) days later, on 20 January 2026.

The prolonged outage disrupted essential library, research, and information services provided to students, researchers, scholars, and members of the public. To sustain limited operations and protect national heritage collections, the NLSA was compelled to rely on backup generator power at significant unplanned cost.

The matter was further compounded by public statements on social media by the Executive Mayor alleging that the NLSA owed approximately R1 million in unpaid electricity charges, and later thanking the institution for settling its account. The NLSA categorically rejects these claims and reiterates that the account was fully settled at the time of disconnection.

The NLSA calls on the City of Tshwane, particularly the Office of the Executive Mayor, to ensure accurate public communication, fair administrative practice, and the prompt resolution of service-related matters, especially where essential public institutions are concerned.

Issued by:
National Library of South Africa