WHO GETS LEFT IN THE DARK?

SOL PLAATJE Municipality has redirected R4.5 million initially allocated for an electrification project in Jacksonville to supply power to 173 stands in Lerato Park, following threats of violence.

- SANDI KWON HOO

Lerato Park residents have been waiting for several years to receive a power supply and previously staged protests over service delivery failures. A commitment was made to fast-track the process following unrest in April, during which roads were obstructed and pupils were unable to attend school.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) confirmed that investigations are still ongoing into complaints that beneficiaries were left in the dark, despite multimillion-rand tenders awarded by Sol Plaatje Municipality to electrify Lerato Park.

In its 2021/22 capital budget, the municipality allocated R33 million to electrify 1,500 households in Lerato Park and R20 million for 1,100 households in Lethabo Park.

It is believed that contractors abandoned the site due to non-payment, with no work being done. Residents of Lethabo Park also experienced numerous delays during the second phase of their electrification project and highlighted that they were still waiting to be connected to the grid after five years of “broken promises”.