Mayor launches R25-million electricity project at Finetown, Meriting

06 April 2017

 

More than 900 households at two informal settlements in Region G, south of Johannesburg, are to benefit from a R25-million electrification project being jointly undertaken by City Power, the City of Johannesburg’s electricity entity, and national power utility Eskom.

 

The project, at Finetown and Meriting informal settlements, is expected to be completed in four months. Speaking at the pre-electrification launch at Meriting on Thursday April 6, Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba said the project was part of a drive to ensure that no one in Johannesburg, including communities in informal settlements, lived in the dark.

 

Mayor Mashaba said the City had set aside R41-million for the electrification of Finetown, Meriting, Malibongwe, Zandspruit, Protea South and Lion Park informal settlements. He said a further R650-million had been provided for in the 2017-2018 financial year budget for the electrification of other areas.

 

Cllr Mashaba urged communities of the two informal settlements to protect the electricity infrastructure, refrain from connecting power illegally and help the City to get rid of criminals who stole electricity and deprived it of its main source of revenue.

 

“[The electricity infrastructure] belongs to you; it does not belong to City Power or Eskom, but you,” he said.

 

He appealed to residents to give his administration the opportunity to serve them.

 

“The time has come to serve you with the dignity you deserve. This is just the beginning. We cannot afford to see our communities living in informal settlements. You must hold us accountable as we promised to be the government accountable to the people.

 

“Our role as the City is to create a conducive environment that will encourage investors to come and invest so we create employment for our youth.”

 

He emphasised that these communities had been left behind for far too long. “We don’t apologise for being a pro-poor government. I’d also like to extend my gratitude to Eskom for its support,” he said.

 

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructure Services Cllr Nico de Jager said as part of its pro-poor agenda, the City would electrify 13 000 households in the next financial year “and give the people the dignity they deserve”.

 

Eskom General Manager Des Govender said the co-operation between City Power and Eskom made it possible to provide electricity to all people. He said Eskom was committed to the development of communities.

 

Mdu Nzimande, City Power’s Director of Engineering, pleaded with residents not to tamper with electricity meters after being installed as that was illegal and dangerous.