Spaghetti power a tough nut to crack
2009-02-26
Sieb Sieberhagen
A QUESTION on what a person’s life is worth, came up at the mayoral meeting last week when the report on dangerous and illegal electrical connections in Ward 13 and 14 (mainly the Fairyland, Siyahlala and Kingston Town areas of Paarl) came under discussion. Many of these illegal connections have resulted in power overflows and electric fires. The Department of Minerals and Energy has made allocations for electrification when people are relocated to a formal settlement. If Drakenstein Municipality uses these funds in the current informal settlements they will have to use their own funds to set up the electricity network when these people will be relocated, the report stated. However, residents in these areas need access to electricity and installing prepaid boxes could resolve the problem with illegal connection from formal residents. Some of the formal residents also make a profit selling electricity to the shack dwellers. Wards 13 and 14 (mainly Fairyland and Siyahlala) have already been earmarked for upgrading. Some of the residents are due to be relocated to formal houses serviced with electricity within the next two to three years. Electricity is due to be laid on to the Kingston Town and the Kolbe and Lantana Streets settlements in the next few years. There are currently about 850 families in shacks in Paarl East that lack electricity. Installation of electricity could cost as much as R4 million. “We do have a very serious situation at the moment. It is dangerous and illegal,” said Charmaine Manuel, mayor of Drakenstein municipality. “We cannot close our eyes and forget about it. We have to bring relief to the people.” Leon Coetzee, executive director for infrastructure and planning, said that temporary installation was difficult and not cost effective. “The cost to provide temporary supply for this short period will be a fruitless expenditure as the people will be relocated in the next few years,” he said. Manuel replied that the Municipality would nevertheless have to look at an interim solution.
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