Locals will soon be able to see the light

MSHOLOZI – The City of Mbombela Local Municipality has taken a stand to start setting up legal electricity connections for this informal settlement with a staggering R6-million project.

It will run over two phases with the first one commencing from February to May, and a contractor has already been appointed. The project will create job opportunities for locals with 15 being employed in the first phase. Subcontracting by local community companies will be considered when connections to houses are undertaken.

Ward councillor, Kenneth Mkhonto, announced these developments on Saturday. He told the community that the municipality had applied for the electrification of 3 000 homes in the area at the Department of Energy (DoE), and had been granted
R10 million to be shared with Mjindi Local Municipality of which Mbombela would receive R6 million.

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Mkhonto indicated that tendering processes for a reservoir which would be four times larger than the current one, was at an advanced stage. This project will also be delivered around February.

Illegal connections in the area have claimed more than five lives including adults and children.

The latest victim was a municipal worker who was killed at his home earlier this month.
The electricity project comes almost a month after issues of mistrust among locals and different illegal electricity schemes were dominating the area.

The community raised concerns that during the second phase, the project should benefit qualified local companies and hiring processes should be transparent.
Locals also called on the municipality to monitor community projects to ensure that quality work is delivered within the stipulated time frame.

Mkhonto urged local companies to apply when the municipality advertises any project, and to go through the required tender processes for it to be consider for opportunities.
Also read: Illegal transactions continue in Msholozi