Who gets left in the dark? Protests spark revival of power project in Lerato Park

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.

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”.

During the most recent protest in Lerato Park on April 23, residents expressed frustration to municipal manager Thapelo Matlala, noting that a year had passed since his last site visit, with no progress made.

Sol Plaatje executive mayor Martha Bartlett assured the protesters that a contractor would be appointed by May 9 and that work would begin urgently. She also noted ongoing challenges with cable theft and vandalism in the area.

A request was made on April 23 to the Department of Electricity and Energy to redirect an allocation of R3.9 million from the Blekkies project - intended to electrify 160 households in the 2025/26 financial year - to help reduce the backlog in Lerato Park under the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP). 

The Blekkies project was deemed unready due to “excess people on site”, which could delay implementation.

Parties highlight lack of consultation

During a recent council meeting, DA councillor Chris Phiri warned that shifting funds in response to protests could set a dangerous precedent. He also reminded the council that local government elections were approaching, cautioning that the municipality risked being “held ransom by protesters”.

ANC Ward 30 councillor Robert Kok called for the matter to be held in abeyance to allow proper consultation.

“How will I explain this to the Jacksonville community, who have been humble and waited patiently without protesting? Let us not use this issue to divide the community. You cannot approve something that is wrong. Funds should be used for their intended purpose,” said Kok.

He indicated that work had since started in Lerato Park.

EFF councillor Pontsho Mocwana questioned where the funds to complete the Jacksonville electrification project would now come from, if these funds had been diverted to Lerato Park.

“It could also spark unrest and service delivery protests. There has been no consultation with the community,” said Mocwana.

DA caucus chair Elize Niemann said the party would monitor both expenditure and progress on the Lerato Park project.

ACDP councillor Roddy Loff called for greater fiscal discipline from the municipality.

Speaker Dipuo Peters noted that the funds had to be spent by May 31, the end of the financial year, or be returned to the Department of Electricity and Energy and National Treasury.

“The funds were made available as part of the adjustment budget,” she said, adding that Jacksonville would not be “disadvantaged” as their electrification project was only expected to be delayed by a month.