The City’s Energy teams connected a further 214 homes to the electricity grid in Masakhane, an informal settlement in Nomzamo, Strand. The R1,8 million Masakhane 4 and 5 project has immediately enhanced the living conditions of thousands of residents in the area.
The Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg visited the Masakhane informal settlement to switch on the lights with beneficiaries for the very first time.
‘We’ve celebrated with the 214 beneficiaries and their families as they switch on the lights in their homes for the first time. The City spent R1,8 million on this latest phase of the project and we will be connecting more homes in the surrounding areas in the coming years. Since the beginning of the 2018/19 financial year, the City has connected over 2 234 homes in Nomzamo with parts of the area, including Masakhane, Pholile and Chris Hani sections among those who have already benefitted from the City’s electrification programme. This milestone underscores the City’s commitment to providing reliable electricity services to all.
‘As we approach the warmer and dryer months, we are pleased that the project will improve the safety in the area. This electrification project will provide residents with essential lighting, cooking and refrigeration. The successful completion of this phase of the project is thanks to a collaborative effort from the City, the residents in the area and the hardworking teams who worked tirelessly to connect all 214 beneficiaries. In older existing settlements in City-supplied areas and on City-owned land, where it has been feasible to do so, almost 100% of informal settlements are electrified.
‘To all of us at the City, electrification of informal settlements goes beyond switching on the lights. It is about transforming lives, ensuring safer streets and better opportunities for all. The benefits of formal electrification includes significantly fewer fires as homes in these areas will no longer depend on fossil fuels and far less illegal electricity connections, which expose children in particular to live wires, increasing the risk of electrocution.
‘The City is dedicated to building a more inclusive and equitable city for all our residents and we are taking significant steps to achieving our goal,’ said Alderman Limberg.
The City’s electrification projects in informal settlements aims to:
· Improve the health and well-being of residents
· Enhance security in the area
· Improve educational outcomes of students and learners in the area
· Create opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses
