RESIDENTS of Patsing informal settlement in Lenasia, South of Joburg, are officially added to the power grid for the first time since the informal settlements were founded.
According to the residents, the community had illegally connected their shacks tapping on mini-substations closer to the settlement. This exposed them to risks associated with illegal connections, including burnt shacks.
City Power and the MMC for environment infrastructure and services, Jack Sekwaila, officially switched on the lights at the informal settlement on Thursday, 22 February, as part of the Gauteng energy response plan.
This comes after the Department of Human Settlement declared the area suitable for human occupation.
The City of Joburg, through its energy entity City Power, moved to put up a network infrastructure to connect over 900 houses in Patsing.
The project, which cost the city over R45 million, involved network reticulation, installation of transformers, stringing of conductors, service connections, joints and terminations and streetlights installation. It took about eight months to complete.
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Addressing the residents, Sekwaila warned that it was unlawful for the municipality to electrify area if the human settlements department has not yet verified it.
He said that this was the beginning of many projects.
“We're trying with the little we have to prioritise services. We're also urging community members to assist with combating theft and vandalism of the infrastructure as this will set us back in terms of providing services and maintaining it."
Sekwaila urged abahlali to pay for electricity as this would assist with revenue generation for City Power.
Though some parts of the informal settlement have not been electrified, Sekwaila promised the residents that they will do so in the beginning of next month.
“We're aware that some of the residents of Patsing have not been electrified, partly because some may have settled here after the initial project plan was concluded.
"I’m excited to announce that from the beginning of next month, March 2024, we'll be embarking on a project of connecting electricity supply to over 120 households,” he said.
City Power CEO Tshifularo said the entity was proud to have been part of this historic project of ensuring that the residents of Patsing and Veggieland, who have been without electricity for decades, finally receive this essential service.
