Although the new 800MW solar farm project Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is set to take off in less than two weeks, residents of Merafong in the West Rand question the process with many concerned that it will not create long-term employment as believed.
Gauteng government’s 800MW solar farm plan
Residents claim they don’t know what Lesufi’s plans are because they don’t know about the construction.
Lesufi spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga said “the public may not have heard about the project based on their interactions with the municipality”.
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“The project is in the Skills Development Professionals (SDP) and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of the municipality, it has been implemented through the municipal approval process.
“When we enter the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, a public participation process will be carried out which will inform the public about the project,” said Mhaga.
Independent power producer
However, residents insisted that if the provincial government had finalized plans to release the land to six independent power producers (IPPs) for the Merafong solar farm cluster by the end of March, the municipality should have announced this.
Local business owner and NGO founder Puseletso Masolane from Maso Lane Holdings said when the power plant was a good initiative to get Merafong, especially parts like Khutsong and Welverdiend, back to what they used to be, they felt cheated.
Masolane said in a city where 85% of the population is unemployed, “the plant is supposed to transform this place, but what if people don’t know it’s being built anywhere?
“This small business is supposed to bring jobs to this area. Ask anyone, they don’t know about the power plant. It seems that the people around them don’t care. Everyone can benefit from the cost, not themselves,” he added.
Create a project
A resident, Tefo Moitsheki who was found filling potholes on 10th Avenue, said after seven to nine years of unemployment, he hopes the project will give residents jobs in the area.
“I hope very much, but the concern is that this happened, even though they are still talking about it. At least we should know what happened,” he said.
“I haven’t heard from people from other towns about something this big happening in my backyard.”
Moitsheki said Carletonville is completely different now.
“Look at the Blue Ribbon bakery and other factories that are here. These abandoned buildings should tell you what this is.
“We are now surviving on the R350 that was given to us. I don’t know how big things can happen in these two weeks.
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