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It has been revealed to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Human Settlements that the completion of around 1000 housing opportunities near Ceres is being delayed by Eskom’s inability to provide bulk electricity infrastructure.

This information came to light during a presentation by the Witzenberg Municipality during an oversight visit by the Standing Committee. The housing opportunities in question are part of the Vredebes Housing Project.

Eskom is already responsible for huge losses to the economy due to their inability to keep the lights on. Access to electricity is a key part of dignified housing, and construction of top structures cannot continue unless Eskom provides the necessary infrastructure, as is their mandate. This failure to provide the basic infrastructure needed to complete construction of housing opportunities for citizens in need is scandalous, even if it is unfortunately unsurprising.

This debacle once again shows that Eskom is a binding constraint on development in South Africa, having a negative effect on all aspects of the economy, and also on the ability of governments to provide quality services in all areas. The DA is committed to excellence in service delivery, and it is unacceptable that the continuing failures of one state-owned enterprise is holding back the improvement of so many lives in the Western Cape, and the country.

The DA calls on Eskom to provide clarity on why they haven’t fulfilled their duty to the people of Ceres, and more importantly, to rectify this situation immediately.

Issued by DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Human Settlements, Matlhodi Maseko, MPP