Ekurhuleni’s executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina, has announced a R2.4-billion programme for the electrification of informal settlements across the metro.
The project plans to have completed the electrification of over 16 000 households by the end of this financial year.
The five-year programme has started in informal settlements located on state-owned land while legalities to roll out the programme in informal settlements on privately owned land are being reviewed.
“We have begun to electrify households in our current informal settlements as per our manifesto commitment.
“We are also planning to install street lights to improve the safety of our people, especially women and children,” said Masina.
To date, a total of 9 943 households have been electrified in informal settlements such as Langaville, Inxiweni, Marikana, Winnie Mandela and Ekuthuleni.
The installation of streetlights is currently being rolled out, with 2 263 street lights of the targeted 3 000, and 156 high-mast lights already having been installed, while work is underway to achieve the targeted 400 high-mast lights around Ekurhuleni’s 119 informal settlements.
Improving household lighting for the poor requires stability in our energy sources.
Plans are currently underway to create the necessary settlement structures that make safe and secure electricity connections possible.
These plans include the implementation of alternative and renewable energy to limit dependence on the national grid and improve security of energy while protecting the environment by limiting greenhouse emissions.
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