City completes R 2,5 million Gugulethu electrification project

03 July 2026

The City’s Energy Directorate has completed its R 2,5 million electrification project in the Lotus Park informal settlement in Gugulethu, where 193 homes were connected to the grid. As part of the project, upgrades to the electricity network were completed to strengthen the community’s electricity grid.

‘City teams have successfully completed our electricity project in Lotus Park, and the project included the upgrading of backbone infrastructure, including the mini substation to accommodate the additional connections, the installation of new low voltage cables, the installation of electricity poles and advanced LED retrofitted street lights for improved area visibility and safety.

‘In addition, each household is connected using standard connection infrastructure, including distribution boards and prepaid electricity meters. Importantly, our electrification projects not only regularise beneficiaries as formal City customers, but also enables residents to access subsidised services, including the provision of up to 60 units of Free Basic Electricity (FBE).

‘By June 2026, our teams successfully installed 1 814 connections in areas across the metro and we will continue to install electricity connections and upgrade areas where it is feasible to do so.

‘The Energy Directorate thanks the residents of Lotus Park and the greater Gugulethu community for their support while we completed this project,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.

Electrification projects in informal settlements Cape Town

The rollout of electricity services is subject to land ownership and service supply arrangements. This includes areas on City-owned land that are supplied with City electricity, as well as privately owned land where permission has been granted by the relevant landowner. Where feasible, and within the constraints of its available resources, the City provides a safe and reliable level of service, ensuring access and opportunity for all.

The Municipal Finance Management Act determines that public money cannot be used for the enhancing of private property and the City can only assist informal settlement residents and backyarders residing on City-owned property and where site conditions allow.

The City continues to seek ways to invest greater resources in driving electrification projects for backyarders and residents in informal settlements, where feasible and also with Eskom, where applicable.

Report to the City

Streetlight and electricity faults:

Call Centre: 0860 103 089
SMS: 31220
WhatsApp: 060 018 1505

Let’s ACT: Protect Your Power against theft, illegal connections and vandalism:

• Report suspicious behaviour to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre: 021 480 7700
  
• Report illegal scrap yards to the ‘Copperheads’: 0800 222 771 (toll free, 24/7, anonymous tip-offs)

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office