City Power hostel power project to complete
“For us as City Power, it works in our favour if we can have every household electrified as we are able to address the problem of illegal connections and revenue collection."
City Power has announced the completion of the electrification of over 500 units in Diepkloof Hostel.
This project started after a series of protests by residents of the hostel over the issue of service delivery.
This saw the City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda visit the area to give residents reassurance that their issues will be attended to in July 2023.
The protest also resulted in hostel dwellers gathering on the N12 East, Diepkloof Interchange leaving a milk truck torched and some members of the media allegedly attacked.
ALSO READ: City Power contractors busted for corruption
According to the CEO of City Power, Tshifularo Mashava, the area was completely electrified within the set budget of R15 million and at specified time-frame.
The utility electrified 332 units at Madala section, as part of the first phase, on the second phase, the entity connected 200 units at the Giyani section.
In response to public outcry, the Department of Human Settlements in the City of Johannesburg promised residents that their concerns would be addressed.
City Power was also tasked with the duty of building electricity infrastructure, including internal reticulation to enable the supply of electricity to the hostel.
The project comprised the installation of medium voltage infrastructure such as transformers, ready boards, overhead lines, streetlights and service cables from poles to the walls of the units.
“We appreciate that we are all faced with challenges from load shedding to illegal connections, vandalism and theft of electricity and the infrastructure.
“It is only when we club together as departments or that we will be able to win some of these battles,” Mashava said.
The electrification also comes less than a month after City Power completed the electrification of Patsing, Veggiel and informal settlements in Lenasia, with more earmarked.
“For us as City Power, it works in our favour if we can have every household electrified as we are able to address the problem of illegal connections and revenue collection.
“This electrification will go a long way in improving the lives of the residents, ensuring the residents are safe, especially at night, and have safe legal connections,” added Mashava.
ALSO READ: More City Power technicians attacked and robbed in Tshepisong
“We are handing over a very successful project to the Department of Human Settlements and are grateful that we could step in to assist when called up.”
Executive Mayor, Cllr Gwamanda, regrettably had to cancel his pre-arranged launch of the Diepkloof Hostel electrification project in order to attend to the protracted water disruptions that have plagued the City.
