HOSTEL residents are happy to be finally switched on.
This follows their protest action in 2023 to demand electricity supply and better service delivery.
Now, City Power has completed the electrification of over 500 hostel units within the set budget of R15 million.
However, the dwellers are not happy that they got electrified while they still live in dilapidated houses which might collapse any day.
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Daily Sun visited the hostel and was shocked to see that most of the houses could collapse should it rain heavily.
Some of the houses had sinkholes, while others had broken windows.
Community leader, Sibongiseni Khoza told Daily Sun finally they have electricity, but are not happy with how the Department of Human Settlements went about electrifying the hostel.
“How do you install electricity in such a place? We're happy to have electricity, but what about the state of these houses? They might collapse. How come a trained person, who works with engineers, install electricity in a place like this?" asked Khoza.
He said electricity will come in handy at the hostel. He told Daily Sun they will now have hot water when getting children ready for school.
Another community leader, Sifiso Mbele told the People’s Paper: “We've asked the premier [Panyaza Lesufi] to come and have a look at our situation. People’s lives are in danger.”
He said they were told funds are available to improve living conditions at the hostel.
City Power spokesman, Isaac Mangena said the utility electrified 332 units at Madala Section as part of the first phase. In the second phase, the entity connected 200 units at Giiyani Section.
“This massive project follows sporadic violent protests that broke out in 2023 over electricity power supply. The protests saw major routes such as the N12 and the Chris Hani Baragwanath Road blockaded and trucks looted,” Mangena said.
He added that in response to the public outcry, the Department of Human Settlements in the City of Joburg promised residents that their concerns would be addressed, and City Power was tasked with building the electricity infrastructure, including internal reticulation.
Joburg mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda and Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Jack Sekwaila were meant to join City Power board chairwoman Bonolo Ramokhele and CEO Tshifularo Mashava for the unveiling of the completion of the electrification project on Tuesday, 12 March.
But due to the cancellation of the event, residents were unable to voice their housing grievances with the mayor.
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