Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina has announced a US$ 182million electricity programme for the electrification of informal settlements across Ekurhuleni, with more than 16 000 homes to be finished by the end of this fiscal year.
The five year programme began in the informal settlements situated on state owned land, while legalities to roll out the programme in privately owned informal settlements is being re-evaluated.
“We have started to electrify homes in our present informal settlements as per our policy binder. We are also preparing to install street lights to perk up the safety of our people, particularly women and children,” said Mayor Masina.
To date, an overall of 9 943 homes have been electrified in informal settlements such as Langaville, Inxiweni, Marikana, Winnie Mandela and Ekurhuleni.
The installation of streetlights is presently being rolled out with 2 263 streets lights of the aimed 3 000 and 156 High Mast Lights already installed.
The Mayor said they are operating untiringly to realize the aimed 400 High Mast Lights around Ekurhuleni’s 119 informal settlements.
Improving household lighting for the poor needs stability in energy sources. Plans are presently ongoing to make the basic settlement structures that would make safe and secure electricity connection feasible.
These plans comprise the execution of alternative and renewable energy to limit reliance on the national grid and perk up security of energy, while protecting the environment by limiting greenhouse emissions.
