IN THE DARK
3.4-million households still did not have access to electricity
Photo by: Duane Daws
President Jacob Zuma revealed in his State of the Nation address earlier this month that a number of municipalities would continue to benefit from government’s electrification programme, pointing out that 3.4-million households still did not have access to electricity.
The Amathole district municipality, in the Eastern Cape, was allocated R138.4-million to electrify 7 936 households.
The Umzinyathi district municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal, was allocated R118-million to electrify 6 930 households. To date, 2 365 households had been connected and an additional R209-million has been allocated for the 2015/16 financial year for household electrification and bulk infrastructure.
The Alfred Nzo district municipality, in the Eastern Cape, was allocated R191.3-million to connect 4 688 households. To date, R148-million has been transferred and 2 399 households connected. An amount of R30-million has been provisionally allocated for the 2015/16 financial year for electrification and bulk infrastructure.
The Lukhanji municipality, also in the Eastern Cape, received R6.7-million for electrification, with all infrastructure projects having been completed. An additional R4.5-million has been allocated in the 2015/16 financial year for the electrification of houses.
Also in the Eastern Cape, the OR Tambo district municipality was allocated R300-million to connect 12 192 households. To date, 2 365 households have been connected. Homes not connected to the grid would be allocated solar home systems. An additional provision of R357.5-million has been made for the 2015/16 financial year.