The Eastern Cape government will work with Eskom to provide disadvantaged people in rural areas with free non-grid electricity.

According to Eastern Cape Provincial Local Government and Traditional Affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, solar and wind-generated power will form the backbone of the provincial government programme.

“Where there’s no electricity in the form of grid, there must be provision for non-grid electricity. We will work together with traditional leaders and communities to make sure that people benefit from this,” says Qoboshiyane.

Qoboshiyane points out that rural municipalities like Mbhashe and Engcobo that don’t generate a lot of revenue have already managed to provide basic alternative sources of energy where grid electricity is not available. He believes this shows that people from poor municipalities who don’t have electricity can get access to alternative sources of energy. “This acts as a cushion for poor people,” he says.