The risk of studying by candlelight at home will be a thing of the past for scores of pupils from Motherwell’s Khayelihle informal settlement, as 370 homes have been officially connected to the power grid, and provided with a safe and legal electricity supply.
With schools open for the 2024 school year, delighted parents said the electrification could not have come at a better time, as their children have gone back to school.
This “perfect gift” was delivered by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Electricity and Energy Portfolio Head, Councillor Zanele Sikawuti, in Ward 56 on Tuesday, January 16.
“This is definitely what we call perfect timing. Our children are going back to school tomorrow, this means that we will iron for them using legal and safe electricity. In the morning we will cook and prepare for them with ease,” said Nontsikelelo Booi, mother of four, and the first to test the new infrastructure in her home.
“I was previously using paraffin stoves and lights, as I was tired of the fights pertaining to the illegal connections. It was not easy; they will come back from school tomorrow and enjoy watching TV, and when the time comes and they have to study during night time, they will do so without the risk of burning the house down if they fall asleep with candles or paraffin lights on.
“We are truly overjoyed as this development will also end all the infighting that was happening within our community, between the shack owners and the owners of brick houses that were affected when their designated transformer blew up. Electricity makes life easier; it’s a basic necessity in our days, so we are happy that we finally have safe electricity,” she added.
The 370 homes are part of the metro’s broader electrification project, which seeks to provide residents in informal settlements with safe and legal electricity to curb the illegal connections which continue to claim lives and cost the metro millions of rands.
“Today is a joyous day for all of us. The dignity of our people has been restored and a peaceful community will be realised,” said ward councillor, Lubabalo Ludwabe, during the programme.
“We are on a drive to deliver on our promises of providing safe electricity to our people. Yesterday we were introducing a new project in Booysens Park where a new substation will be built to ensure that residents have stable electricity supply.
“Today we are in Motherwell doing electrification of homes. The joy of their faces shows just how much they needed this service.”
“Every child deserves to live in a home with a safe electricity supply. Our plea to our residents, those who have been on the power grid for some time, and those who are being connected as we go along, is that they work with us in protecting the electricity infrastructure. They must report any suspicious acts and those who steal from them, as these criminal acts negatively affect the same communities.
“We are coming to other areas as well to do electrification; we call on our people to be patient and work with us as we move towards delivering services.”
