The installation of electricity in a crime-ridden Grahamstown informal settlement has closed a dark chapter in the lives of residents who have been without electricity for more than two decades.
The installation of electricity in a crime-ridden Grahamstown informal settlement has closed a dark chapter in the lives of residents who have been without electricity for more than two decades.
Residents of Ethembeni informal settlement near Extension 7 were overjoyed when electricity was installed in their homes this week. More than 300 households are expected to benefit at the conclusion of a project that started in October last year.
Baymont Field Services from Johannesburg was appointed by Eskom to install electricity in the area.
Construction supervisor Lucky Motukisi said the project started on 1 October and was expected to be finished by the end of November, but due to delays in the distribution of material it couldn't be completed on time.
Motukisi said they only received material from Eskom in November and tried to push for transformers before the December holidays. “By 17 December, 265 houses had been energised out of 330,” he said.
Motukisi said they were aiming to electrify the remaining 65 houses by today (Friday, 22 January). He said the project had created temporary employment for 12 people in the area.
Ethembeni resident Noma-wethu Kondile has lived in the area for about 21 years. She shares her house with her husband and their 17-year-old son.
Kondile says they have been living without electricity for years and it has been a big problem for them, especially at night. “We were living like animals in this place. I'm very happy because we see ourselves as human beings now that we have electricity,” she said.
Kondile says they were condemned to a life of paraffin stoves which can be dangerous, especially around children. “At least now that we have electricity we can use things like microwaves and other safe appliances,” she said.
Another resident, Mkhanyiseli Solomon, who has been living in Ethembeni since 1995, had nothing but praise for Ward 11 councillor, Mncedisi Gojela. Solomon says the area was named Ethembeni (Hope) because previous councillors had nothing but promises for the residents.
Solomon shares his home with his wife and their two children. “Since arriving here, service delivery has only been done verbally, hence the name Ethembeni, but we are beginning to see change,” he said.
Solomon said he could literally count the things that have been done in the area since it was established (shortly after 1994) on the fingers of one hand – these being four communal taps and a garden. He adds that he has been impressed with Gojela’s leadership because he started with a clean slate when he came into office in 2011 and asked for advice from local residents about what their priorities were.
“We told him not to worry about houses because we knew that would take forever. So we asked him to prioritise formalising the area so people can have their own properties, having our own taps and electrifying this area,” he said.
Solomon says, slowly but surely, these things are starting to happen because they now have electricity and their own plots.
“The electricity came unexpectedly. We didn’t expect it this soon,” he said. He says they are still looking forward to more good things, in terms of service delivery from Gojela, “because we can see he has the capacity to lead and he has good ideas”.
Solomon said one of the things they wish to see is the eradication of pit toilets. “I, for one, would love to see him being given a chance in the upcoming elections, so he can finish his work,” he said.
Speaking to Grocott’s Mail in Ethembeni, Gojela said the residents of the area have been struggling for more than 10 years.
“One of the ANC government’s most important priorities is to provide basic services to its people, which is why we ensure projects of this kind are carried through.”
He added that the lack of electricity in the area meant that its residents were vulnerable to criminals and that the next thing on his list was to fight for the people of Ethembeni to get RDP houses.
“I have submitted an application to the Human Settlements Department for 1254 houses. Human Settlements is currently screening the names of the applicants and we are waiting for that process.”
Municipal spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo said, “As the municipality we are trying by all means to make sure that services reach everyone in Makana. We are very excited about that project and we are happy that the people of Ethembeni finally have electricity”.
anele@grocotts.co.za
