Founder and leader of the Zandspruit Community Movement (ZCM), Enos Maake, is adamant that the authorities will electrify the informal settlement before the end of August this year.
He explained that all the stakeholders including the City of Joburg, Eskom and City Power have already started a series of meetings with the ZCM to draft a plan of electrifying the area.
Residents of Zandspruit met with the MEC for Human Settlement Paul Mashatile who signed their Memorandum of demand after the City of Joburg Mayor, Parks Tau, failed to show up during a peaceful protest last month.
Read the previous story: Residents say government neglected them for 22 years
Maake explained that residents complained that the City should electrify the entire area, and not in phases. “Everything is looking good so far – this is the year of Zandspruit,” he said.
The committee began a series of meetings on 3 May. “We will continue to engage with residents and all the stakeholders regularly,” he explained.
He further mentioned that the MEC had agreed to the residents’ terms and Eskom was asked to start immediately. “I don’t see a problem with logistics, they just need to do an audit and start with the project,” he said.
According to the statement from the office of the Department of Human Settlements, MEC Paul Mashatile told the residents that the first issue that the committee will tackle was connecting electricity legally within the area.
MEC Mashatile said that the committee will consist of the Department of Human Settlements, City of Joburg and its entities such as Pikitup and City Power, Eskom and the Department of Labour.
“Just because you live in informal settlements does not mean that you do not deserve electricity. We have to connect you legally,” he told residents.
The MEC also urged the community to welcome government officials when they visit the area to deal with the illegal connections. “Working together with the City of Johannesburg, we have also identified land for building houses for the community,” said the MEC.
He further explained that after installing basic infrastructure on the land, community members would be allocated stands.
“After we have given a person a stand and title deed, those who can afford it can start building for themselves. The government will also act quickly to assist those who cannot afford to, and build them houses,” concluded Mashatile.
Details: Department of Human Settlement, 011 355 4000; Zandspruit Community Movement, 081 383 2238.
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