Eskom said it had spent R830 million in connecting 47 402 new households to the electricity grid across the Eastern Cape during the financial year ending 31 March 2017.
In a statement Eskom General Manager Collin Reddy said that over the past three financial years, the power utility had connected almost 94 000 new households in the province.
“We accelerated over the past couple of months to make sure that we connect more people with the financial resources available. We are continuing the acceleration so that we get to those who are yet to be connected, connected. We are on our way,” Reddy said.
Eskom regional spokesperson, Ntosh Mafumbata, said what they are celebrating more than just giving electricity to people. "It's actually changing the lives of people within 47 404 households across the Eastern Cape Province that have electricity for the first time," said Mafumbata.
She said this was "an achievement that we as a province have never done before in one year," she added.
Eskom said most of these new electricity connections done include the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality with 6074; Matatiele with 5146; Mnquma with 3275; Mbhashe with 3265; Mbizana with 3141; Ntabankulu with 2979; Senqu with 2578; Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality with 2345; Elundini with 2315; Intsika Yethu with 2336; King Sabatha Dalindyebo with 2200; Nyandeni with 1964; Umzimvubu with 1867; Port St Johns with 1692; Engcobo with 1182; Amahlathi with 970; Enoch Mgijima with 956; Raymond Mhlaba with 633; Sakhisizwe with 602; Ngqushwa with 417; Mhlontlo with 346; Makana with 269; Emalahleni with 256; Sundays River Valley with 185 and Koukamma with 90.
