GUGULETU SERVICE CENTRE

* The Guguletu Service Centre is a high voltage switching station and electricity depot intended to bring about greater service equity.

* Construction started on 10 January 2000 and the centre was completed on 4 April 2001.

* The total cost of construction was R12 million.

* The centre is sited strategically within the Wetton-Philippi-Lansdowne economic development corridor.

* It serves the areas of Guguletu, Nyanga, Philippi West, Brown's Farm and Weltevreden Valley North and the informal settlements of KTC, Lusaka, Barcelona, Europe, Kanana and Newrest where the City's electrification programme is in progress.

* The centre provides customer service functions, network operations and maintenance functions.

* Customer service functions include

- applications for new supplies

- transfer of electricity supply

- account queries

- technical advice relating to electricity supplies

- the safe and efficient use of electricity

- dealing with queries regarding the electrification of formal and informal housing areas.

* Network operations and maintenance functions involve maintenance of 11 000-volt and low voltage networks to ensure a high quality of supply, electrification of informal settlements, complaints about faults, street lighting and high mast maintenance.

* The centre serves the dual purpose of being a catalyst for entrepreneurial development by providing kiosks for traders, and is the front line of the city's electrification programme in low-cost housing areas.

* The centre is proof of the city's commitment to job creation and economic development.

* Informal traders take a step up from the street to the more formal kiosks at the depot. The kiosks are therefore a stepping stone in the development process.

* The kiosks will be augmented by business skills training and other support mechanisms.

* The kiosks will reduce the disparity in the availability of economic infrastructure and opportunity between the well-off and disadvantaged areas.

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