Heavenly Valley informal settlement will have access to to basic infrastructure services such as electricity
Heavenly Valley gets energised
Residents from the Heavenly Valley informal settlement in Klipspruit West can now breath a sigh of relief, knowing that each and every home within the community will be electrified.
Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure, Councillor Nico de Jager, MMC for Community Development, Nonhlanhla Sifumba, City Power officials and ward councillors were amongst the several officials present at the sod-turning ceremony held at the Heavenly Valley informal settlement on Tuesday, April 23.
Emotional residents came out to attend the ceremony and to listen to what the mayor had to say. Mashaba said that the City of Johannesburg is working hard to ensure all residents have access to basic infrastructure services like electricity and water.
“The electrification of these homes will not only mean less vandalism of current infrastructure or more visibility at night but it will also mean that the high school learners studying for their exams will be able to do so under clear lighting. It means that people are now able to make less use of braziers and paraffin stoves, which can often be hazardous,” the Mayor said.
He also said that the project by City Power is set for completion by the end of June 2019 after which residents will have access to safe and reliable electricity for the first time since the informal settlement was birthed over 50 years ago.
Media relations manager for City Power, Isaac Mangena, confirmed that throughout this project, two small businesses and 20 local labourers will benefit from the project.
“We will be setting up camp. Each household will have prepaid meters. We will also be erecting street poles and overhead cables that are not easy to steal. These overhead cables will not have copper, it is made out of aluminium which is not worth anything at scrap yards. We want to eliminate cable theft,” said Mangena.
Mayor Mashaba confirmed that Heavenly Valley is the first of seven informal settlements that will be electrified.
“As a city, we continue to be committed to ensuring that the best interest of our residents is served, despite our many challenges. And we will continue to electrify informal settlements. I can confirm that Kliptown is one of the informal settlements that will be electrified as well,” he said.
Ward councillor Macy Maluleka said that she is excited for residents in Heavenly Valley.
“I know how long they have been struggling for. They deserve this,” she said.
Residents thanked the Mayor for heeding to their call.
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