Cape Town: The city has connected almost 400 homes in its latest informal settlement electrification project in Nomzamo. This is one of the largest electrification projects in recent years, connecting 395 homes in the informal settlement, to the electricity grid with more planned connections.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Energy – Alderman Xanthea Limberg said that they are enormously excited to celebrate this remarkable project with the community of the New Village Informal Settlement in Nomzamo, which saw 395 homes connected to the formal electricity grid for the first time.
Limberg highlighted that this is a R4.9 million project and is one of the most significant initiatives in recent years. It has brought the total investment in electrification projects to over R35.6 million, completing 2,629 home connections in recent years. This is a demonstrated caring approach of the City of Cape Town to deliver dignified and reliable electricity services to all communities and is also an example of the dedication of the officials and contractors who pulled off this project in just six months.
She said that even as they celebrate this achievement, they know that there is more to be done. That is why she is pleased to share that the teams are planning a further 304 connections. It is an important formal electricity connection that will also see residents in this area getting benefits from the subsidised lifeline tariff of the city, which includes up to 60 free basic electricity units on their prepaid purchases monthly, by reducing overall household costs.
Furthermore, the Energy Directorate’s electrification projects form part of the City’s broader commitment to upgrade informal settlements and to ensure that communities receive equitable access to essential infrastructure and services. They thanked all teams for their hard work, all stakeholders and most importantly, the community for partnering with them to deliver this major project to the area.
Access to electricity will bring multiple benefits to the community. Families will be able to light their homes safely, reducing the reliance on candles and paraffin, which pose significant fire risks. School learners and university students will be able to study in the evenings with proper lighting, while homes can refrigerate food and use essential appliances.
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.
The Municipal Finance Management Act determines that public money cannot be used for enhancing private property and the City of Cape Town can only assist backyarders and informal settlement dwellers residing on City-owned property and where site conditions allow for this.
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. In older, City-supplied informal settlements, almost 100% of settlements have been electrified where it has been feasible to do so.