A plea to exchange candles for lights
Victor Mafinya steps forwards for his community
Mayor Herman Mashaba has announced updates for the electrification and development of Zandspruit.
The Randburg Sun visited Zandspruit to get residents’ comments on Mayor Mashaba’s announcement. Their Ward Counsellor, Victor Mafinya said, “The residents were very disappointed after Mayor Mashaba’s second visit.”
He said that even though Mashaba brought several solutions to them, they wanted to know when the electrification of the area would begin, which Mashaba couldn’t answer.
“They have been waiting a long time for the electrification of the area. They even held a meeting with Eskom, about the electrification concerns,” said Mafinya.
At the moment the residents are using paraffin stoves to cook their meals. They have schoolgoing children, who use the Internet through their phones that need to be charged. Matches are being sold for residents to use.
“The lack of electrification is not only causing uncomfortable living standards but it’s also impacting the youngsters’ education,” Mafinya said.
Mafinya said that there was a budget for the electrification of the area but after the new administration stepped in the budget was rolled over because they failed to submit the necessary applications.
Mafinya said that Eskom told them to prepare the ground and relocate the residents before they could begin, which he has already undertaken and has made sure they complied with all the regulations needed for electrification.
Mafinya said that he believes the electrification is still going to take a long time.
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