MIDVAAL LAUNCHES SOLAR LIGHTS IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENT
The Midvaal municipality is proud today to lead the way in the use of solar lighting in informal settlements. This is part of the DA's "Light up your Life" campaign initiated last month by DA Gauteng Caucus Leader Jack Bloom, starting with a successful pilot installation that lights up shacks in Zamani, an informal settlement in the Far East Rand.
The DA aims to replace dangerous candles and paraffin with affordable solar lighting for residents of informal settlements in Gauteng who don't have electricity.
Twelve families in Boitumelo informal settlement now benefit from light in their shacks provided by solar panels.
Each shack has three lights and a cellphone charger. Residents' lives are changed dramatically as they don't have to spend on candles and paraffin to light up their shacks, which is dangerous and unhealthy.
One solar panel with one battery can power up to eight shacks with light. The cost is about R2500, which is affordable for shack residents who each spend more than R100 a month on candles and paraffin for lighting. Within three to four months they will recover what they previously spent on lighting, and thereafter light will essentially be free and safe.
The Midvaal Council will also promote the "Litre of Light" bottle for dark windowless shacks during the day. This is a two litre clear plastic cold drink bottle filled with water that is placed in the shack roof and reflects the sunlight to light up the shack. This simple and effective device was invented in Brazil in 2002 and has proved very successful in poor areas in the Philippines.
Nineteen "Litre of light" bottles have been installed so far in Boitumelo, and we will educate more people on how to make these simple inexpensive lights.
Informal settlements like Boitumelo are unlikely to be electrified by Eskom in the near future. The solution is affordable and effective solar power.
People need light in their lives, and should not have to use candles or paraffin which all too often lead to the tragedy of shack fires in which lives and possessions are lost.
This demonstration project in Boitumelo has been sponsored by a generous donor. The Midvaal Council intends to promote more solar lights in Boitumelo and other informal settlements in Midvaal by getting sponsorship from local companies, and will also support it in next year's council budget.
We are showing what can be done with safe renewable energy to light up the lives of the poor, and hope that other councils will follow.
(Photos available on request)
Statement issued by Midvaal Mayor Timothy Nast, November 15 2012
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
