Nellmapius residents demand electricity

The cost of living is very high but being without electricity makes living worse, a Mamelodi resident said in frustration.

Betty Mashifane was among the residents of Nellmapius ext. 22, who came out to protest at the Mohlawe Technologies electrification project recently.

The extension was formed in 2016, and most residents are people living with disabilities.

Mashifane said they came out to protest to highlight that the project that started in June 2021 had yet to be completed.

“It was supposed to be done in four phases – 1 and 2 were completed, and residents there have electricity but phase 3 has yet to start,” she said.

The residents claimed they remain in the dark regarding the hold-ups.

“We have to approach the project managers and community liaison officers (CLOs), who keep making empty promises,” the residents said.

Mashifane said they signed a petition to send to the municipality, raising concerns about living in the dark for more than seven years.

“The project is supposed to be finished by now,” she said.

Wheelchair-bound Prudence Phakathi said she suffered from pneumonia because of using paraffin for cooking.

She said they desperately needed electricity, and because paraffin is costly.

“We are forced to buy takeout every day – hand-to-mouth buying is very expensive,” said Phakathi.

“The only way to survive is to buy groceries to last maybe two days because we are unable to put our food in the fridge because we have no electricity.”

Bongane Mhlongo, also living with a disability, said placing a person with a disability in a house with no electricity was like burying them alive.

“We have different disabilities, some medications need a fridge, and you also need to eat healthily,” he said.

“We are forced to go to our neighbours to store our medication in the fridge.”

Student Mohau Ledwaba said the lack of electricity affected everyone, including schoolchildren.

“Most of the schoolwork these days depends on the internet, and without electricity, there is no network coverage,” said Mohau.

“Tshwane is failing us when it comes to service delivery. The beneficiaries were supposed to be given a finished RDP with electricity.

“We are freezing cold in winter, especially the elderly people and lots of houses have burned to the ground due to unattended candles and paraffin stoves malfunctioning.”

He said the people responsible for the project are lining their pockets with money meant to finish the project.

The residents further demanded their homes to be connected to power as soon as possible “instead of having to wait another seven years”.

However, Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the electrification started in the 2021/22 financial year as part of a Gauteng human settlements department township development project.

“We have engaged and requested to take over the electrification of houses. At the time, the city had not budgeted for it.

Given the pressure from the community, the city started the project though it had budget constraints,” said Bokaba.

He said the project entails the electrification of 1 330 houses, the installation of a bulk feeder from the Hatherley substation and streetlights.

“The area will be supplied from the Hatherley substation, which has a reserve capacity,” he said.

He said Phase 1 and 2, the medium and low voltage network, have been energised and commissioned.

He said the two phases serviced 756 households, and are complete.

Phase 3, a medium and low voltage infrastructure, was completed, inspected and approved for energising but vandalised before it was put on.

“This necessitated repairs, which are underway and expected to be completed and energised by no later than February 20,” he said, adding that it was 97% complete.

Phase 4 is underway and expected to be completed by April 30, and currently stands at 60% complete.

He said the project was delayed by late delivery of medium voltage cables, besides the vandalism.

“This challenge is now resolved as the city has appointed service providers for the supply and delivery of cables.”

He said the project is fully funded, with R40.5-million set aside.

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