Marikana boost as services upgraded

THE City of Cape Town has agreed to install highmast electricity poles in the Marikana informal settlement as well as contracting a cleaning company to clean the area, according to community leaders.

For now, 13 high-masts will be installed on the borders of the informal settlement as the City was still negotiating with the landowners, as the land occupied by the residents was privately owned.

If negotiations favour the City, more high masts will be installed inside the informal settlement, said community leader Xolani Joja when he was addressing a community meeting yesterday.

He said the City also wanted to delineate blocks in the informal settlement so that waste removal trucks would be able to pick up waste.

Mayco member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services, and Energy Xanthea Limberg confirmed the installation of high masts, as well as that a cleaning company had been contracted to clean the area.

Residents interviewed said that currently they were concerned about their health because garbage was piling up.

Nomawethu Sigwela said residents walked long distances to get water and used illegal connections to access electricity.

The informal settlement, divided into six sections, is home to at least 60 000 people.

Community leader Anele Yekani said: “We are happy that there is progress.

“The high masts will be of great help to the neighbourhood watch that patrols the area. After the high masts have been installed, the police will not have excuses not to patrol the area.”

“We know these things take time and we will be patient,” said Yekani.

Ward 35 councillor Mboniswa Chitha said it was high time for the City to service the informal settlement.

“We are happy there is a progress and we are hopeful that this is not going to drag and take long,” he said.