In the past 15 years, only 25,798 households have been electrified, according to a mayoral report submitted during a council sitting on Thursday.

The report outlines a proposed implementation plan to electrify informal and formal settlements in Tshwane, aiming to reduce illegal connections and electricity losses in the city’s network.

It also notes that informal settlements in the city are proliferating alarmingly due to rapid population growth and urbanisation, driven by people seeking employment and better living conditions. 

As of October 2023, there were 579 recognised informal settlements, a number that continues to rise annually, according to the City of Tshwane’s Geographical Information System report. 

While the current coalition government is optimistic about the electrification plan, it was criticised by the Freedom Front Plus for being unrealistic.

FF Plus councillor Mare Joubert criticised the administration for claiming to be “a step closer” to electrifying informal settlements, saying it raises unrealistic expectations.

“In her state of the capital address the Mayor (Nasiphi Moya) proudly said ‘we are a step closer to electrifying informal settlements’, but this creates expectations that simply can not be met,” she said.

She explained that since 2010 Tshwane has electrified only 25 798 “and that is about 1 720 per year”. 

“With nearly 200 000 households in informal settlements today it will take over 116 years to connect all of them at the current pace,” she said.

Joubert also highlighted the affordability hurdle, pointing out that prepaid meters won’t guarantee payment from poor households. 

“In Tshwane where unemployment is high (and)many residents are undocumented, prepaid meters will not guarantee payment. Those who can’t afford electricity will simply bypass meters or reconnect illegally,” she said.

She also said while prepaid meters can help to formalise consumption and allow the city to track usage, they cannot be a standalone solution to the problem.

She urged the current administration to prioritise addressing the exponential growth of informal settlements, calling it the real crisis, rather than ignoring it.

In response, Frans Boshielo, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Utility Services, stated that the report outlines the current coalition government’s plan, emphasising that they aren’t seeking approval, but rather informing the council of their intentions to implement it regardless of opposition.

“In the previous government led by the ANC we had a programme called the electrification of the informal settlements. Unfortunately, the DA-led government cancelled that programme and so we are restarting the programme. We are going to ensure that we are going to put electricity to our people,” he said.

DA’s Jacqui Uys said the ANC’s stance suggests they are not willing to provide dignified housing to the people of Tshwane.

The council report said: “The City is not able to keep up with the provision of land, housing, and infrastructure for providing basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity connections. The mushrooming of informal settlements and lack of basic services such as electricity lead to the huge increase in illegal electricity connections.”

During the budget tabling in May, Finance MMC Eugene Modise expressed concern about the rapid growth of informal settlements and allocated R98 million to formalise them.