The recent visit by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and Human Settlements, Dikgang Uhuru Moiloa, to discuss the electrification project has left City of Johannesburg officials shaken up.
In a joint statement, the MMC for Housing, councillor Meshack van Wyk, and the MMC for Economic Development, councillor Leah Knott , who is also the political head of Region C, shared their opinion about Moila’s sudden interest in the project.
“We have been made aware of MEC Moiloa’s visit to Zandspruit, during which he claimed that he would invite the City of Johannesburg, amongst others, to plan for housing development in the area.
“The MEC’s comments are bizarre, since it has been the City’s efforts over the last two years which have brought us so close to electrifying and formalising Zandspruit,” the duo’s statement read.
It continued, “A township application for Zandspruit Extension 16 was approved during October 2016. This was followed by a pre-proclamation of the township in March 2017 and a General Plan during April 2018.
“The electrification of Zandspruit has been a priority for the Housing Department since early last year. We have had discussions with Eskom and have already submitted an application to them to electrify the informal settlement. Since then, we have been in talks with Eskom on a monthly basis, ensuring that the project is delivered smoothly.”
They also indicated that the Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, revisited Zandspruit in November last year to provide community leaders with an update on the City’s plans for the electrification and development of their township.
“During the council meeting on 31 October 2018, several resolutions were reached that ensured no further delays in delivering essential services and restoring dignity to the people of Zandspruit. The electrification of the area forms part of our overall implementation plan for the development of Zandspruit. The project is earmarked to formally commence on 12 March 2019.
“We have heard residents’ cries ever since our multi-party government took over this administration. Why were their cries for the last two decades, under the previous administration’s leadership, not heard?” they questioned.
“If the province has still not been able to do anything about bettering the lives of people in Zandspruit, there should be no reason to believe that they will start now,” they stated.
They concluded by saying, “Province should first work on delivering on their own promises before taking credit for the current administration’s work. They have been failing dismally to take action in terms of applying for electrification of their own state-owned properties with Eskom, such as Doornkop, where the City is once again having to step in”.
