Ekurhuleni MMC tells Tsietsi residents why the area won't be electrified any time soon

Ekurhuleni MMC for energy Mzayifani Ngwenya says the electrification of Tsietsi in Katlehong is a priority in the city’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP), but delays are tied to unfinished human settlement processes. 

His remarks follow protests in the area on Tuesday morning where residents took to the streets in what they said was frustration over years of unfulfilled promises, and the dangers of illegal electricity connections.

Many residents said they rely on izinyoka, paying R300 to R350 monthly, to be illegally connected to electricity. They claimed these illegal connections have claimed at least four lives in recent months.

Ngwenya told Sowetan that electrifying the area can only be done once infrastructure like water and sewer systems are in place. 

“The delay in electrifying Tsietsi is human settlement related. That’s why residents are seeing development in other areas while theirs is still on hold,” said Ngwenya, adding that he has also received reports about the land being sold and that he is yet to verify the claims. 

"There are many challenges here [such as] selling of stands even when the subsidy forms were given to residents to fill out so they can be processed. Some of the leaders who are calling these marches were saying to people, 'give me money ranging from R2,000 to R10,000'. We know these issues ... there is many of them, most of them politically motivated."

“Also because of budget constraints, the rollout of services like water and sewer is done in phases, and it’s been very slow. Electricity is the last step, our department only comes in after that.”

Michael Mhlongo (31), a Tsietsi resident since 2000, said they were initially told the area was temporary while homes were being built in nearby extensions 9 and 10, which he refers to as the "promised land". 

“Some people were moved there while others remained behind. Their stands are being sold here to others. It feels like we are being forgotten,” he said.  

“Every meeting we are told of budget issues. Toilets were promised, and they gave us chemical ones to make it seem like something was happening. But nothing lasting ever follows.” 

Mhlongo added that service delivery in the area is poor. Police and ambulances take hours to respond, if they come at all, he said.

“If someone gets hurt or is sick at 10pm, emergency services only come the next morning, and by then the person might already be dead. Car hijackers also use this area as a dumping zone for stripping vehicles. This is no way to live.” 

Nelisiwe Khumalo, 62, a Tsietsi resident since 2009, said she has been waiting for her RDP house since 1996.  “Every year they promise us houses, but nothing comes. A decent home remains a distant dream,” she said. 

Khumalo added that there is a rumour that the land where the informal settlement currently sits is privately owned, and they fear that one day they might just be evicted. 

Residents say they were tired of empty promises and being treated as if they should be grateful for non-existent basic services. 

At the time of publication, the City of Ekurhuleni had not responded to Sowetan’s queries regarding the allegations around service delivery raised by the Tsietsi residents. 

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