South African President Jacob Zuma has committed funds to various municipalities across the country to electrify 31, 746 households.
During the State of the Nation Address on 12 February, Zuma assured the nation that electrification programmes would prevail despite the current electricity challenges, CNBC Africa reported.
Beneficiaries of the funds:
| District | Funds allocated | Number of households to be electrified |
| Amathole District Municipality | ZAR138 million ($12 million) | 7,936 |
| Umzinyathi District Municipality | ZAR118 million ($10 million) | 6,930 |
| Alfred Nzo District Municipality | ZAR191 million ($16 million) | 4,688 |
| Lukhanji Municipality | ZAR6.7 million ($600 000) | For electrification |
| OR Tambo District Municipality | ZAR300 million ($26 million) | 12,192 |
| TOTAL: | ZAR754 million ($65 million) | 31,746 |
Herewith below is the full statement from the presidency:
Pretoria – The Presidency has announced targets and funding for municipalities which would benefit from the electrification programme announced by President Jacob Zuma during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), last week.
During the SONA, President Zuma announced that the electrification programmes would continue, and mentioned that there were still an additional 3.4 million households awaiting electricity.
The programme is aimed at eradicating apartheid backlogs in the supply of electricity.
He mentioned Amathole district Municipality, Umzinyathi District Municipality, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Lukhanji Municipality and OR Tambo District Municipality would benefit from the programme during the 2015/16 financial year.
On Sunday, the Presidency announced that the Amathole District Municipality has been allocated R138.4 million to electrify 7 936 households.
The Umzinyathi District Municipality has been allocated R118 million to electrify 6 930 households.
To date, a total of R118 million has been transferred and 2 365 households have been connected.
An additional provision of R209 million has been made for the 2015/16 financial year for household electrification and bulk infrastructure.
In the Alfred Nzo District Municipality – R191.3 million has been allocated and electrify 4 688 households.
To date, a total of R148 million has been transferred and 2 399 households have been connected.
According to the Presidency, a provisional allocation of R30 million has been made for the 2015/16 financial year for household electrification and bulk infrastructure.
Lukhanji Municipality received R6.7 million for electrification. The infrastructure projects have been completed. An additional allocation of R4.5 million has been made for the 2015/16 financial year for the electrification of houses.
OR Tambo District Municipality has been allocated R300 million for the electrification of 12 192 households.
“Houses not connected to the grid will be connected using solar home systems. A total of 2 365 household connections have been connected. An additional provision of R357.5 million has been made for the 2015/16 financial year”, the Presidency said.
