Bitou Executive Mayor, Councillor Jessica Kamkam, says the municipality has upped the ante in the drive to better the lives of its residents.

This statement comes as the contractor appointed to electrify the Qolweni Informal Settlement in Ward 3, goes on site this week. The contractor will be electrifying 104 new houses and performing 180 upgrades to existing meters.

Mayor Kamkam says installing electricity in informal households is just one of the ways that Bitou is trying to mitigate the increase of fires in informal settlements. 

In August this year, 200 households were connected to the grid in Bossesgif Informal Settlement which is also in Ward 3.

Last year, just under 200 more households were connected in the same ward. While 60 households were also connected to the grid in the Zawa-Zawa Informal Settlement in Kurlund Village. Bitou Acting Municipal Manager, Mbulelo Memani, said this step is one way that the municipality is trying to improve its revenue collection abilities.

“Further this initiative also is enhancing the safety of informal settlements as candles, and paraffin stoves are dangerous for the community.”

Ward 3 Councillor Thembela Mhlana agreed with Memani saying that the municipality is putting the lives of residents first.

“There is a high electricity demand, and it is great to see that the municipality is taking steps to ensure that the demand is met. “This is the core function of the municipality. With the strides that we are making, I hope that by 2026 all Bitou households will have power,” Mhlana added

“The program to electrify informal settlements is part of our broad vision to accelerate service delivery to all the wards.” Mayor Kamkam concluded.