The City of Ekurhuleni is set to undertake a re-blocking project to reconfiguring the current layout of its informal settlements.

Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements Lesiba Mpya said the main purpose of the re-blocking process is to ensure that all informal settlements’ communities have access to basic services.

Re-blocking, he said, is meant to create an enabling environment for informal settlements and the municipality to plan and implement community development projects together.

“We are aware that many of the residents in these areas are opposing this process simply because they do not see its significance until tragedy strikes. Therefore, with re-blocking we aim to reduce the risk of fires developing and spreading quickly over large areas, and also to mitigate the negative impact of potential disasters and health hazards,” Mpya explained.

Access to basic services

As per the National Upgrading Support Programme (NUSP) some of the work carried out during re-blocking includes the electrification of all structures to prevent illegal connections and over-loading on the network, and numbering of structures. Meter accounts have also been created for affected households.

In some informal settlements, several households have been identified for relocation to reduce congestion and ensure provision of access roads.

Over the next five years, the City has set a target to provide 119 informal settlements with access to electricity and basic services such as water, sanitation, waste collection and graded roads.