April 16, 2004
By Thomas Thale
EXECUTIVE Mayor Amos Masondo was welcomed by the community of Devland when he arrived to officially switch on lights at a ceremony this week, part of a major electrification project in the south of Johannesburg.
Some 1 600 houses have already been electrified and work on 4 400 more is due for completion at the end of June. A further 5 700 stands in nearby Vlakfontein have also been electrified. "More than 11 000 stands in the south will have received electricity connections by the end of June 2004," said Silas Zimu, vice-president of City Power.
Accompanied by senior city officials and councillors, Masondo was warmly received by jubilant locals in Devland, clearly elated at being connected to the electricity grid for the first time.
Responding to the outpouring of emotions, the mayor delivered an impromptu speech in which he thanked the residents for their hospitality and pledged to continue with projects to upgrade basic infrastructure in the area.
"This project has brought economic relief to our people, who have had to rely on wood and paraffin as their sources of energy," said Mofolo Mofolo, a local councillor. "People will now stop chopping trees for wood. The project will have economic and health spinoffs as our people will no longer have be exposed to the unhealthy smell of paraffin."
The electrification scheme is part of a massive project to build RDP-type houses to accommodate some 7 000 families and provide basic infrastructure in the area. The project, approved by council in 2001, was designed to formalise and provide a permanent settlement for people who had previously lived in the squatter camps of Freedom Park and Ruth First near Lenasia. In 2002, residents of these areas were relocated to Devland, which is also known as the Golden Triangle.
Brian Hlongwa, councillor responsible for the City's municipal services, hailed the project as a clear reflection that the council is committed to uplifting poor communities. "Electricity is one of the areas that we have been focusing on but we are also upgrading service delivery in the provision of water and sanitation, housing and refuse removal," said Hlongwa.
Hlongwa said that electricity plays a pivotal role in uplifting communities.
"Electricity is a prerequisite for social and economic development," said Hlongwa. "It improves the quality in the delivery of other services, including health, education and safety and security."
According to Mofolo, the project has generated some 1 000 jobs for members of the community to date.
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