​Approximately 333 households were connected to the electricity grid on Wednesday 28 August 2019 as part of the City’s R3 million electrification project in Mabophe Square informal settlement in Nyanga East. Councillor Maxiti was joined by Ward Councillor Luyanda Nyingwa and Subcouncil 14 Chairperson Thandi Makasi.
 
The electrification project comes after joint efforts among various City Departments, community engagement and hard work. The City sincerely thanks residents of the area. Community cooperation was critical for the success of the project as informal structures had to be shifted within the informal settlement area to enable the electrification work to proceed. This was necessary to enable sufficient access to install the services.

‘I visited some of our residents who received access to electricity at their homes for the first time. The residents were grateful, especially now during the cold and dark winter months. Electrifying homes is about more than just having a lightbulb, it truly is life-changing for these residents. Having electricity enables economic growth and allows small home-based businesses to operate more efficiently; it enhances safety; it reduces the risk of fires; it promotes better public health; and it also creates an improved environment for learners to achieve better academic results since they no longer have to use candle light to do their homework or to study for exams in the evenings.

‘I would like to commend the City’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department which is working hard to connect residents in informal settlements with electricity where allowed and possible. We will continue to make every effort to improve the lives of our residents in informal settlements through the provision of access to electricity, as part of the City’s commitment to service delivery and improving the health and safety of our residents,’ said Councillor Maxiti.
 
Due to the acute need for accommodation in the metro, rapid urbanisation and land scarcity, the City has shifted a large part of its focus to the formalisation of informal settlements.

Electrification projects, along with other basic services projects are ongoing across the city.
 
According to the latest Annual Report (2017/18) 97,3% of City-supplied households have access to electricity in general.
 
 
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