The Bekkersdal Electrification project will see electricity installed in 15 000 homes in the area
The Bekkersdal Electrification Project will power 1 000 homes by the end of April 2019.
The Bekkersdal Electrification project will see electricity installed in 15 000 homes in the area in 24 months.
The project was launched last week by Afri Biz Invest’s subsidiary company, Tshepang Electrical.
Collen Mashawana, chairperson of Afri Biz Invest, said not only will the project improve the lives of 45 000 residents, it will also ensure that locals are employed during the project.
The reality is that 14 per cent of the population in South Africa is still living in informal settlements, with the majority living without access to electricity, water and sanitation.
Collen Mashawana, chairperson of Afri Biz Invest, said 15 000 homes will be supplied with electricity in 24 months.
“In an area like Bekkersdal, that was declared a township 35 years ago, people cannot live without accessing these services,” Mashawana said.
He said the lack of such services may also severely affect the economy of the municipality.
“This means that you would not have access to light to be able to study, which might affect education. In that case, you would not be able to produce enough intellectuals and educated people.”
Bekkersdal residents welcomed the launch of the Electrification Project in the area.
He added all these factors are important to sustaining a municipal economy and at the end, if people have no access to such resources, they end up not getting education, which means they might not get jobs to be able to pay their rates and taxes.
Mashawana said that by the end of April this year, 1 000 houses will be powered.
Mzi Khumalo, Rand West City Executive Mayor, who praised Afri Biz Invest for the initiative, said the residents of Bekkersdal have been in need of electricity for a very long time.
Mzi Khumalo, Rand West City Executive Mayor, said electricity should be considered a basic human right.
“I want to believe that in any informal settlement in which people have lived for five years, they have a right to get electricity. The day of 25 January 2019 represents many years of struggle of the people in this area. This not only a victory for us, or the city, but for the people of this area.”
Khumalo added that electricity should no longer be considered a privilege but a basic human right.
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