Electricity to make Christmas special

Ward councillor Phumzile Oliphant prepares to switch on the electricity to Phola Park and Shukushukuma in Humansdorp.

WARD councillor Phumzile Oliphant switched on the electricity to 329 informal dwellings at Phola Park and Shukushukuma in Humansdorp on November 26.

The switching on was met with singing, dancing and loud cheers from community members who gathered to witness the special moment. 

The completion of phase one of the electrification comes just a month before Christmas.

"Many of these residents have never had electricity in their homes before. We are excited that we were able to complete the project on time for Christmas and trust that the 2014 festive season will be extra special for these families," said Infrastructure, Planning and Development portfolio councillor Patrick Kota, whose directorate has been driving the formalisation of informal areas in the Kouga region.

The electrification was completed at a cost of R3,2-million, with 238 homes electrified at Phola Park and a further 91 at Shukushukuma. The funding was provided by the Department of Energy, with Kouga Municipality implementing the project.

Oliphant said the project highlighted the municipality’s commitment to the Back to Basics programme launched by Cooperative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan this year as part of Government’s drive to fast-track basic service delivery.

“Communities consider electricity to be one of the most important services. This is recognised in the Back to Basics programme and the manifesto of the ruling party,” he said. 

The second phase of the project will commence in January 2015. An additional 212 plots in Phola Park, Jeffreys Bay and Oyster Bay will be electrified in the second phase.