Greenville residents face service delivery impasse

Residents of the Greenville informal settlement face yet another setback in their ongoing quest for improved living conditions. Councillor Joanne Horwitz has confirmed that the community will continue receiving only the most basic services, extinguishing hopes for infrastructure upgrades.

Currently, residents argue that the area is supported by temporary interventions such as JoJo tanks for water, mobile toilets, and waste collection. However, they stress that even these minimal services are inconsistently delivered and fall short of their daily needs.

Access to formal electricity remains out of reach, forcing many to resort to illegal connections, which have repeatedly been disconnected by City Power.

Also read: City Power plans to give 5 Alexandra informal settlements formal access to electricity

Residents like Thabisa Mazantsi have long advocated for a legal, stable electricity supply. Others, such as Mpho Phibantu, question why the city has not considered alternative solutions—such as the solar panels installed at the Amarasta informal settlement.

Horwitz reiterated that under the Department of Human Settlements’ policy, governed by the Government of Local Unity (GLU), no additional services will be extended to Greenville while residents remain on land that is illegally occupied.

Also read: City Power calls on low-income residents to register for free electricity

“Unfortunately, no projects other than those related to health and social development can be offered to Greenville residents because they are illegally occupying the area. The GLU will not provide any service that may be seen to condone illegality,” Horwitz stated.

This marks the second major blow for the community’s electrification hopes. Shortly after City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero announced the city’s informal settlement electrification plans on May 7, City Power ruled out electrifying Greenville, citing safety hazards posed by high-voltage power lines and unstable dolomitic soil prone to sinkholes.

Also read: River Park electricity restored as City Power opts for ‘constructive dialogue’

For residents, frustration continues to mount.

“If they can give us JoJo tanks, toilets, and other basic services, why can’t they give us electricity?” asked resident Patrick Ngidi.

Horwitz concluded that residents are left with only two choices: vacate the land or continue receiving only temporary, stopgap services.

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