Imizamo Yethu’s Dontse Yakhe residents switched on

14 August 2025

The City’s Energy teams connected 170 homes to the electricity grid in Dontse Yakhe. The R1,5 million project has already significantly enhanced the living conditions for families in the area.

‘Electrification projects form part of a city-wide programme which aims to provide electricity supply to backyarder and informal settlements residents to improve the health and safety of those living in informality, where feasible. The electrification project for Dontse Yakhe residents started in April 2025 and was completed in June 2025. This milestone cements the City's commitment to providing reliable electricity services to all.

‘The City will spend R21,4m in 2025/26 for electrification projects across the metro. This is a priority for the City as it reduces the risk of illegal connections and open fires while also restoring human dignity and quality of life. Electrifying informal settlements is about more than powering homes,  it’s about empowering communities. It brings safer streets, brighter futures, and better opportunities for every resident.

'The successful completion of this project is thanks to a joint effort from the City, residents in the area and the hardworking teams who worked to connect the 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.

‘Importantly, in addition to the electricity connections, beneficiaries will also receive an allocation of up to 60 units of free basic electricity (FBE) on the City’s subsidised Lifeline Tariff,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.

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

Caption 1: Ward Cllr Rob Quintas, Resident Nontembeko Mbikwana, Cllr Limberg and Energy Portfolio Committee Chairperson Councillor Zimkhitha Sulelo
Caption 2: Councillor Sulelo, Cllr Quintas, Resident Nomvula Mkangume and Ald Limberg
 
 
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office