The Johannesburg metro has committed R500-million to deal with the recent electricity cuts in the city, the mayoral committee said on Thursday.
The power cuts are largely due to old cables, illegal connections and insufficient voltage from the cables, said Brian Hlongwa, a member of the committee responsible for municipal services.
He said power cuts mainly occur during winter when there is an increase in the demand for electricity.
”We will be going public in the next two months … to say here is a plan to deal with those power cuts,” Hlongwa told reporters before a ceremony opening the Johannesburg council for the year.
City Power has delivered free basic electricity to about 190 000 people since July 2 2004, mayor Amos Masondo said.
He said the Johannesburg metro has been paying Eskom R4-million each month since January 2004 to provide an additional 30 500 people with free electricity.
”Further negotiations to increase Eskom beneficiaries are under way,” Masondo said. ”If concluded, an additional 53 000 beneficiaries will receive this service not later than the beginning of March 2005.”
A sum of R61,4-million was spent to electrify 29 024 homes by December last year. A further 11 170 homes will be electrified by the end of this year.
”These are in Alexandra, Golden Triangle, Vlakfontein, Lawley, Tshepisong and Lehae,” he said. — Sapa