A controversy has erupted in Soweto over a newly-installed transformer in Snake Park, with DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille accusing Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi of taking credit for the project. Zille claimed the DA had paid for the unit and arranged for Eskom to install it. Lesufi posted photos on social media showing the blue replacement transformer being switched on during his visit to the area.
The Gauteng government has dismissed Zille's allegations as false and misleading. According to the government, installing transformers is part of a long-standing provincial initiative launched in 2023 through the Emergency Energy Council. This collaborative effort involves the Gauteng government, Eskom, local municipalities, and other stakeholders to expand electricity access across the province.
The Emergency Energy Council was established to address the issue of inadequate electricity supply in various parts of Gauteng. Since its inception, the council has been working tirelessly to ensure that residents have access to a reliable electricity supply. The installation of transformers is a key part of this initiative, with over 1,000 units installed so far.
The provincial government has also highlighted an R82m agreement signed with City Power earlier this year to replace failed units and restore power to affected communities. The government emphasized that the initiative is driven by public service needs rather than political motives. The Emergency Energy Council meets weekly to review progress and approve new installations.
The government has reiterated that the programme to install transformers in communities that have historically lacked electricity supply is an ongoing effort to expand access to electricity and improve residents' quality of life. This initiative predates the current political contestation around the provision of electricity in the area and is not an election-driven project.
The Gauteng provincial government has stated that it will not allow a long-term service-delivery programme to be reduced to an election-season dispute over political credit. The province has dismissed the assertion that the administration only turned its attention to Dobsonville after the DA intervened, stating it misrepresents the history and origin of the programme.
The installation of a transformer in Snake Park, Soweto, is an important intervention, but the ultimate objective is to ensure that residents have access to a reliable electricity supply. The government will continue engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure that electricity interventions respond to actual community needs and deliver sustainable outcomes.
Key points
- The Gauteng government has rejected claims made by DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille that premier Panyaza Lesufi falsely took credit for a newly-installed transformer in Snake Park, Soweto.
- The provincial government has emphasized that the initiative to install transformers is a long-standing programme launched in 2023 through the Emergency Energy Council.
- Over 1,000 transformers have been installed since the programme's inception, with an R82m agreement signed with City Power to replace failed units and restore power to affected communities.
