This was announced by Ekurhuleni mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina recently.
Masina said the five-year programme has started in informal settlements located on state-owned land, while the legalities around rolling out the programme in privately owned informal settlements are being reviewed.
“We have begun to electrify households in our current informal settlements as per our manifesto commitment,” Masina said.
“We are also planning to instal street lights to improve the safety of our people, especially women and children.”
According to Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson, 9 943 households have been electrified in informal settlements such as Langaville, Inxiweni, Marikana, Winnie Mandela and Ekuthuleni.
“The installation of street lights is currently being rolled out, with 2 263 street lights of the targeted 3 000 and 156 high-mast lights of the targeted 400 already installed around Ekurhuleni’s 119 informal settlements,” Gadebe said.
“Improving household lighting for the poor requires stability in our energy sources.
“Plans are currently under way to create the necessary settlement structures that make safe and secure electricity connection possible.”
Gadebe said alternative and renewable energy sources would be explored, to curb dependence on the national power grid and reduce the city’s environmental footprint.
At the time of publishing, the metro had not responded to questions about which informal settlements would be electrified next or what the plans were for alternative energy sources.
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