Westville informal settlement resident Ntombizodwa Ndlwana had to wait for 20 years for electricity, with politicians promising her and thousands of residents repeatedly they would be connected to the grid.
And on Monday, the Umcosa Play and Learn principal had something to smile about as she was one of the residents whose shacks were electrified by the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.
“The promises were always made, every year someone would come and address us and tell us that we will get houses and electricity and water, but all we could do was wait,” Ndlwana said.
Ndlwana’s shack was one of 1,000 electrified late in 2020.
She had to use a gas stove to prepare meals for children at her daycare centre.
“But whenever we needed to host a graduation ceremony, we had to hire a hall and that was costly.
“At least now we will be able to host them here as we do have the space.”
Ndlwana denied there were illegal electricity connections in their settlement, which is just outside KwaDwesi township, and said everyone was concerned about the risks that came with hanging cables or live wires.
“We use paraffin lamps, candles, gas and those rechargeable lamps. Even before they gave us lights, you would never find izinyoka here.
“And we won’t stop using gas because it is cheaper for cooking. But it is definitely nice to be able to charge your phone and have lights at the flick of a button,” Ndlwana said.
Last year, eight-year-old Chumani Mdayi lost his life when he was electrocuted by an illegal electricity cable and then-head of infrastructure, the late Mongameli Bobani, announced that the municipality would intervene by starting an electrification project in the Kingston informal settlement near Despatch where Chumani lived.
During the official switching on of the electricity on Monday, new electricity and energy political boss Luxolo Namette said there was a housing backlog of about 80,000 and a number of informal settlements mushrooming across the city.
“Most of these areas are disconnected from services like electricity and running water.
“The city has committed to integrate some of these areas into the grid to improve social conditions and circumvent illegal electricity connection,” Namette said.
He said the electrification project had been temporarily stopped as the city had run out of material.
He said the remaining shacks would have electricity by the end of February.
“We are appealing to the community to work with us and give us this month to complete the work. Only 250 homes still need to be connected.”
HeraldLIVE