Residents demand FTLM complete stalled electricity project
MOTLOLO
Two decades ago, residents of Frans Park (Ward 19) outside Motlolo believed their homes will finally be electrified.
More than 21 years later, their wish is still a dream. This is because, the handover and finalisation of electrification of Frans Park was 21 years ago but still today, residents are still without electricity.
According to the Democratic Alliance in Limpopo, year after year, the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) fails to provide the Frans Park community with electricity, and the 2025/2026 financial year seems to be no exception.
The DA in the FTLM has requested the MMC of Roads Infrastructure and Technical Services, Halinda Mojalefa, provide reasons for the longstanding lack of electricity in Frans Park.
“An oversight to the sub-station in Steelpoort revealed that a new substation was constructed to augment the load capacity, which renders the municipality’s explanation of a lack of capacity baseless.
A new housing development, adjacent to Frans Park has been electrified which caused immense frustration to residents. Frustrations reached boiling point after residents realised that FTLM’s mayor Eddie Maila’s commitment to electrify Frans Park is not guaranteed in the IDP/budget for the new financial year,” said DA’s Cllr at the FTLM Tumelo Molapo.
According to Molapo, the electrification of Frans Park does not appear under the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) but under projects to be funded by the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) pending the successful application for funds.
He urged the residents of Frans Park to use their votes during next year’s local government election against the ANC to indicate their deep dissatisfaction for being overlooked for so long.
This publication contacted FTLM spokesperson Mahlaku Komane with regards to the halted electrification project, she was yet to respond to the queries forwarded to her at the time of going to press.
The Frans electrification project is not the only project giving residents sleepless nights.
Residents from Magabe Park in Mabocha also complained to this publication about their electricity project.
According to the residents, the Magabe Park eletrification project was launched in July 2023 and as of June 18, 2025, it is still incomplete.
” How can an electricity project of few homes take more than two years. We know there were challenges but this electricity project at Magabe Park has dragged for too long, can the mayor Maila intervene in this project,” complained one of the community members.
