Plans to energise informal settlements in Mogale City gains momentum as 190 households in the Smokedown Informal Settlement became the latest beneficiaries of electricity supply through a partnership between Eskom in Gauteng and Mogale City Local Municipality.
The R8.6 million electrification project investment commenced in 2017 where the first phase saw 572 households being electrified in 2018/19 – Smokedown forms part of the final phase. The total number of electrification connections planned for the financial year is 5 487.
Present at the switch-on ceremony was Mogale City Executive Mayor Francis Makgatho and Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Energy, Water and Sanitation Tshepo Nzwane who were over the moon about the project. “Energising informal settlements is one the city’s longstanding initiatives that seeks to improve the quality of people’s lives and advance universal access to electricity,” Councillor Makgatho highlighted.
“This is the second Mogale informal settlement to be connected to the power grid this year month after the electrification of Pangoville Informal Settlement in Munsieville,” he added.
While the residents were celebrating the switch-on, the executive mayor also encouraged that they look after the infrastructure as the better part of Mogale City townships have been victims of illegal connections, causing high and costly amounts of damage.
Gauteng Operating Unit Senior Manager Sylvester Barei said the electrification project is a step in the right direction for the Smokedown Informal Settlement. “This is another way of optimising and safeguarding infrastructure through a legalised process. Customers will safely access electricity and benefit from the free basic electricity made available by Mogale City. Customers will however have the responsibility to pay for their services to ensure that they are sustained,” he added.