55 Masonwabe homes set to receive electricity as Gugulethu project advances

Fifty-five households in the Masonwabe informal settlement in Gugulethu are being connected to Cape Town’s electricity network in a project aimed at improving access to safer, more reliable power, ***Cape {town} Etc ***reports.

The City of Cape Town has allocated R883 735 to the electrification project, which includes installing infrastructure to bring formal electricity connections to residents where site conditions and service arrangements allow.

According to the City of Cape Town, work is progressing at the settlement, with teams installing electricity poles to carry overhead aerial bundled cables. The cables offer an alternative to conventional copper wiring, which is vulnerable to theft, while helping improve the quality and reliability of the electricity supply.

Crews are also fitting pre-assembled electrical distribution boards that can be mounted on walls. The units include a lightbulb and multiple plug sockets, including USB connections, allowing residents to power and charge devices more conveniently.

The installation forms part of the City’s wider programme to extend formal electricity services to informal settlements where land ownership, infrastructure requirements and conditions on the ground make electrification possible.

Beyond the physical infrastructure, the project could also help eligible households manage their monthly expenses. Mayoral Committee Member for Energy Alderman Xanthea Limberg said residents who had already received connections told her how the City’s subsidised lifeline tariff had helped them cope with rising electricity costs.

Qualifying households can receive up to 60 units of Free Basic Electricity (FBE), providing some relief for residents who need to stretch limited household budgets. Limberg said the excitement among community members waiting for formal connections had highlighted the importance of bringing electricity services to the settlement.

‘For us at the City, electrification is about more than providing electricity.’

– Alderman Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Energy

She added that access to formal power was linked to improving residents’ quality of life, making communities safer and providing more reliable services.

Local jobs created during the rollout

The project is also creating employment opportunities within Masonwabe itself. Seven work opportunities have been made available to local residents through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), allowing community members to participate in the implementation of infrastructure in their neighbourhood.

The City thanked residents for their patience and cooperation, noting that community engagement had taken place from the consultation and design stages through to the start of construction.

While the current project covers 55 homes, the rollout reflects the practical challenges involved in expanding electricity infrastructure in informal settlements. Not every area can be connected immediately, as access to land, the availability of services and physical site conditions all influence where projects can proceed.

For Masonwabe residents included in this phase, the new connections promise more than a light switch. They offer access to a formal electricity service, with potential benefits for household budgets, daily routines and the safety of their homes.

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**Picture: **The City of Cape Town / Facebook

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