For the first time in their lives 395 families in Nomzamo’s New Village Informal Settlement can flick a switch and light up their homes safely, after the City of Cape Town connected their homes to the formal electricity grid.

The milestone brings the City’s total investment in electrification projects to over R35,6 million, completing 2 629 home connections in recent years, with plans for an additional 304 connections in the area already underway.

For hundreds of families the project means an end to dangerous reliance on candles and paraffin for lighting. Children can now study safely in the evenings, families can refrigerate food and homes can use essential appliances without fire risks.

“We are enormously excited to celebrate this remarkable project with the community,” said Xanthea Limberg, Mayco member for Energy. “This demonstrates the City’s commitment to delivering dignified and reliable electricity services to all communities.”

Residents will benefit from the City’s subsidised Lifeline Tariff, which includes up to 60 free basic electricity units on prepaid purchases monthly, helping reduce household expenses.

The Energy Directorate’s electrification projects form part of the City’s commitment to upgrading informal settlements and ensuring equitable access to essential services. However, legal constraints under the Municipal Finance Management Act limit the City’s ability to enhance private property, restricting assistance to residents on City-owned land where site conditions allow.

In older City-supplied informal settlements nearly 100% have been electrified where feasible. The City continues seeking ways to expand electrification resources for informal-settlement residents, working with Eskom where applicable.