The Western Cape Government has initiated a project to provide rural agri-workers living on farms, direct access to electricity, rather than via land owners or other third parties.

The Agri-worker Electrification pilot project is being done is a collaborative effort between the Department of Local Government in the Western Cape, Eskom, the Hex River Table Grape Association (HTA), the Agri-workers association and the Breede Valley Municipality.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, says the project aims to make electricity available directly to the agri-workers.

“Currently the majority of agri-workers receive their electricity via the land owners. One of the main goals of this new project is to allow Eskom to supply electricity directly to the end-users which means agri-workers will no longer be under the producer’s jurisdiction and will now have the freedom to manage their own affairs with regards to electricity supply.”
The agri-workers will be able to purchase prepaid electricity from vending stations in their area or by the electronic e-pay system.

“Implementation of the pilot project is expected to start mid-2016,” says Bredell.

A comprehensive awareness campaign will precede the implementation phase.
Agri-workers will receive electricity awareness training which will smooth the transition to the new system as well as equip the community with the basic knowledge on safe and sensible electricity usage.

The department aims to roll out the initiative across the entire province

Issued by Western Cape Government