Residents at New Life informal settlement in Ward 15 broke out in loud cheers when eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor James Nxumalo announced the roll-out of the electrification programme to 900 households in the area.

“The installations are at no cost to the residents after the Council decision to waive the R100 registration fee as most residents could not afford it”, Nxumalo said.

The Municipality has budgeted R200 million for electricity installations in both formal dwellings and informal settlements for the 2015/16 financial year. The installations are expected to significantly reduce dangerous illegal electricity connections in the City.

Contractors assigned to this project are expected to begin work next week. There will also be economic empowerment as eleven residents from the community have been employed to assist with the project. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The electrification of informal dwellings is part of a programme by the Municipality to provide interim services.

The free installations are in line with the City Executive Committee’s decision to waive the deposit for electricity connected to an informal dwelling made four months ago.

The programme is currently being carried out in a number of areas around Durban providing 30 000 households each year with basic needs.

Nxumalo told residents that providing them with essential services was top of the Municipality’s agenda.

Sandile Maphumulo, the Head of eThekwini Electricity Unit urged all residents to save power so more people could benefit from this service.