President Jacob Zuma went on the campaign trail on Thursday in Johannesburg where he switched on an electricity meter at a shack in the impoverished Thembelihle informal settlement in Lenasia.

Thembelihle residents, who had no electricity and relied on illegal connections, gathered at a nearby tent on an open field to hear Zuma speak.

The president’s visit coincided with a City Power project in the area to connect the city’s informal settlements to the grid. Zuma said he was happy to witness the electrification of the informal settlement.

"I am here to celebrate this innovation with you. I think this mix grid method will help with energy problems we face, this is a good innovation, well done to Johannesburg. I am going to encourage those who deal energy to adopt this method…this will resolve our problem," Zuma said to loud applause.

The R90-billion project by City Power would see Johannesburg’s informal settlements such as Thembelihle, whose residents need not be relocated, connected to the grid within five years. Most residents currently sourced power for their homes from illegal connections.

Thembelihle residents would start to enjoy using both solar power and electricity from the municipality, said City of Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau.

Infrastructure development such as roads would follow the electricity project.

"We are against the marginalisation of the poor, hence we introduced this new innovation for residents such as Thembelihle to use solar power and electricity," Tau told reporters.

"You will be able to switch to solar in a case of load shedding, or choose to use prepaid metered electricity and vice versa. Mix energy will allow you to have power no matter what."

Resident Thembi Makhathini, 25, said she was happy that electricity had finally arrived in her area.

"I arrived here seven years ago, we survived on illegal connections which were dangerous. People, especially young children, are killed by unsafe electricity here all the time…we are grateful for this," said Makhathini.

Thembelihle, situated opposite the affluent suburb of Lenasia and a private hospital, is an impoverished area with a high unemployment rate among its residents. Makhathini said she depended on odd jobs to make a living.

"People who are fortunate to have a job here are very few. I survive on domestic work at least twice in a week. We are grateful for the electricity, but most people here would appreciate jobs."

Zuma was expected to proceed to Eldorado Park for a door to door campaign.