Glimpse of Zandspruit power plan
In a bid to alleviate the scourge affecting rate-paying residents surrounding the informal settlement, MMC for Economic Development and Ward 97 councillor Leah Knott revealed an electrification project by Eskom meant to light up Zandspruit in a ward meeting at the Ruimsig Athletics Stadium on 23 August.
The City of Johannesburg has a constant battle trying to prevent the numerous illegal power connections and incidents of cable theft in Zandspruit.
These incidents result in power outages and damage to municipal infrastructure in the surrounding areas. However, they may soon be a thing of the past.
At a public ward meeting on 22 August at the Ruimsig Athletics Stadium, the MMC for Economic Development and Ward 97 councillor, Leah Knott, revealed that an electrification project is to be tackled by Eskom, in a bid to alleviate the negative effect the illegal connections have on the rate-paying residents surrounding the informal settlement,
Also Read: Joint operation removes 200kg of illegally connected cables
Leah shared details of an electrification process which will see Zandspruit connected legally and most probably see a reduction in the illegal connections and cable theft.
A document from the City’s Housing Department, provided by Leah, indicates that a township application for Zandspruit Extension 16 was approved during October 2016. This was followed by a pre-proclamation of the township in March 2017 and a General Plan during April 2018.
In the document, the Housing Department highlighted that in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Human Settlement, they had undertaken various activities in an attempt to support the electrification process. These activities included the establishment of a project steering committee, actual verification of the number of occupants of the site (a total of 1 178 households were recorded), pegging of various residential plots, identification of the structures that have encroached and identification of an alternative site for decanting purposes.
Supporting documents from Eskom were provided by Leah to provide an update on the electrification proceedings. The document outlined the challenges that were faced by Eskom. These included the congestion of households on 239 stands, which made it unsafe to electrify the area, and resulted in the approved budget being cancelled over the years.
However, Leah indicated that after talks with Eskom, the electrification process would be completed in three years. According to Eskom’s procurement programme, the first stage of execution will be between January and February 2019 and the construction would start between April and May in the same year.
Apart from the Zandspruit electricity project, water woes were also discussed during the meeting. Leah said the damage to the municipal infrastructure caused by subcontractors has resulted in huge water losses. She added that she has requested ways to hold the ‘wrongdoers’ accountable.
A concern about sewer line blockages was also raised. Leah and Ralf Bittkau, the PR councillor in the ward, said they are appealing to shopping centres and residents to stop abusing sewer systems as some blockages were caused by fat and non-flushable items such as baby wipes being thrown into the drains.
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