The City of Ekurhuleni has set aside R2.4-billion to install electricity to several informal settlements in the city.

Executive mayor Mzwandile Masina yesterday announced that the R2.4-billion programme for the electrification of informal settlements across Ekurhuleni, with more than 16000 households, would be completed by the end of this financial year.

"The five-year programme started in informal settlements located on state-owned land while legalities to roll out the programme in privately-owned informal settlements is being reviewed," Masina said.

"We have begun to electrify households in our current informal settlements as per our manifesto commitment.

"We are also planning to install street lights to improve the safety of our people, especially women and children," the executive mayor added.

The city said to date a total of 9943 households had been electrified in informal settlements such as Langaville, Inxiweni, Marikana, Winnie Mandela and Ekuthuleni.

Masina said the installation of street lights is currently being rolled out with 2263 street lights of the targeted 3000, while 156 high mast lights had already been installed.

He said they had targeted 400 high mast lights around Ekurhuleni's 119 informal settlements.

"Plans are currently under way to create the necessary settlement structures that make safe and secure electricity connection possible.

"These plans include the implementation of alternative and renewable energy to limit dependence on the national grid and improve security of energy while protecting the environment by limiting greenhouse emissions..."

Ekurhuleni has been recently hit by a series of service delivery protests in some of the informal settlements, including Winnie Mandela and Reiger Park in Benoni.