‘Dispute’ behind 5-year wait for electricity
The municipality says an unresolved dispute between the provincial government and a service provider has resulted in some Nellmapius residents being without any electricity for the past five years.
The Tshwane metro said this week that the Nellmapius extension 22 residents who have been without any electricity since they moved into their RDP houses five years ago were the victims of a dispute between the provincial government and a service provider. “The housing project in question falls under the provincial government, which was supposed to also install and facilitate the electricity connections – not the municipality,” said Tshwane metro spokesperson Jordan Griffiths.
“This dispute has still not been resolved and is the cause of the delay in implementing a project to provide electricity to the area. “The metro has actively been trying to get the provincial government to deliver on its promises to these residents; facilitate the electricity connections and finish this project – yet they have failed to do so.”
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This came after residents in the area, residing next to a substation, complained that they are still awaiting electricity, five years after they were given RDP houses. Residents said they were excited back in 2015 when the metro handed them their houses, but they have been waiting for electricity ever since.
“The provincial department appointed a service provider who was supposed to design and install electricity in the area. “It is understood that contractual disputes between the provincial department and the appointed service provider arose before the implementation of the electrification project. The provincial government has failed to resolve these disputes.
“It is disappointing to note how they have abandoned this process and attempt to shift responsibility to the city. “The provincial government budgeted and made provision for basic services to these residents, they must deliver on this commitment.”
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The provision of electricity to Nellmapius extension 22 RDP houses was part of the development and installation of services by the Gauteng provincial government. He said the metro’s utility services department held several meetings with local community representatives and the department.
Meetings were coordinated and held with the intention so that they can understand the delays affecting the implementation of the electrification project by the province. He added that the Tshwane metro has tried to get the provincial government to keep its promises to these residents. When asked for comment on the matter, the provincial government referred Rekord to the Tshwane metro. Resident Johannes Kokela said it was “disappointing” because their houses were not far from a local substation.
“Every day it’s a struggle here without electricity because we have to cook with paraffin stoves and sometimes get firewood to cook for our children,” he said. In last week’s paper, Rekord initially said that Nellmapius extension 24 instead of extension 22 was the neighbourhood struggling to get electricity.
The metro, however, electrified 2 648 houses in Nellmapius ext 24 in the 2014/2015 financial year. “The whole ext 24 areas were electrified, completed and meters were installed,” said Griffiths. “All the houses there have electricity.” He added that Nellmapius extension 22 was a developed township, which falls under ward 15, region 6, of the Tshwane metro. “The residents who are frustrated about the lack of electricity connections live in extension 22.
“These houses were developed by Gauteng Human Settlements Department (GHSD). “The township development scope included township establishment, construction of RDP houses and all other engineering services which included roads and the provision of water and electricity connections,” said Griffiths.
“The metro takes our responsibility to provide basic services seriously. “We are currently implementing a project to provide electricity to another part of Nellmapius extension 22 which do not have RDP houses, also referred to as Spook Park,” said Griffiths. “This is a newly formalised area where the metro has relocated about 370 communities to service stands.
“The electrification project in this area is at an advanced stage.”
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