Eskom is expected to start installing electricity in the Zandspruit Informal Settlement in July this year.
The utility spokesperson, Khuli Phasiwe, said the City of Joburg had identified a reception area at the Informal Settlement. “Obviously, the area needs to be formalised and developed to be a properly formalised township,” he said.
He explained they would roll out the programme in phases starting from July. He said they would start with 239 households known to the City.
“There are over 800 households which need to be relocated as you may find out that there are more families staying in one yard, which is already known to the City,” he said.
City of Joburg Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure services, Matshidiso Mafikwe said the housing department has identified a piece of land inside Zandspruit.
She explained that residents would be moved there. “We will engage the leadership at the informal settlement and start with the outreach programme on 1 April,” she said.
Residents of the informal settlement embarked on violent protests on 16 March demanding Eskom to reconnect electricity after it was disconnected due to illegal connections. The protest lasted for almost three days before electricity was restored in the area.
During the protest, shops were vandalised and roads were barricaded with stones and burning tyres.
Details: City of Joburg 011 587 4390; Eskom, 011 800 3304.
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