TSHEPONG. – Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) has finally delivered on a promise to electrify about 344 households in Tshepong Phase 3.
This follows the completion of Tshepong’s switching substation which was recently launched by the MMC for Public Works Tumi Mochawe together with various stakeholders.
The project which began in 2019 comes to completion after residents have had to endure the difficulties of not having electricity for years.
In march this year, irate residents stormed the ELM headquarters in demand of answers as to why the project was taking so long to be completed. Residents said that they had to struggle for years on end without electricity supply in their household due to the project coming to a standstill many times.
Speaking to ELM Mayor Sipho Radebe, Dineo Mavimbela (30) said it has been a nightmare for her to live without electricity for so long.
Mavimbela said: “I can’t cook when I’m alone because I have to use a paraffin stove. The other day the flames from the stove got out of control and I tried to move back. I ended up falling off my wheelchair and had to get myself to the couch to get away from the flames. I have to wait for my mom to come back from work to get a decent meal.”
Speaking during the launch, Mochawe said the new substation will distribute energy to Phase 3 residents and businesses for years to come.
Addressing the Phase 3 community, Mochawe said that the substation is largely designed to meet energy needs of the area.
Mochawe further indicated that he is deeply concerned about mushrooming shacks in the area that are being illegally connected to the grid by nearby houses. “We are aware that there are people who take advantage of the system by illegally connecting shacks to the power grid at a monthly fee. This is totally unacceptable as it strains our infrastructure. Nothing good comes out of such acts.
He further called on the community to protect the infrastructure and report people who connect others to the grid illegally.
The R18 million project scope included the construction of a bulk switching substation and electrification of 344 households.
