Electricity for Backyard Families Is a Basic Right

GOOD Statement by Jonathan Cupido, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor:

Cape Town cannot continue to celebrate itself as “the best-run city” while denying thousands of our own backyard families the most basic and lawful service, electricity that is safe, individually metered, and compliant with our own policies.

For too long, backyard dwellers living on City-owned rental properties have been trapped in a legal and administrative vacuum. These are not illegal occupants. Many are children of original tenants. Many are breadwinners, pensioners, domestic workers, EPWP staff, and even City employees. Yet they are forced to rely on dangerous extension cords and overloaded plug points, all because the City of Cape Town has failed to formally recognise a lawful and humane solution.

Yesterday, I tabled a new motion on a Policy and Standard Operating Procedure that closes this gap. It gives backyard residents the dignity of their own prepaid meters, their own accounts, and safe, lawful access to electricity, fully aligned with the Electricity Supply By-law, the Municipal Systems Act, the Constitution, and the City’s Energy Transition Strategy.

This is not about gifting services. It is about the lawful recognition of people who already live on City land safely, responsibly, and with dignity. The policy ensures no burden on main tenants, prevents illegal connections, and protects the City’s infrastructure, finances, and legal compliance.

Importantly, this proposal requires that connections be applied for by the City itself, as the legal property owner, exactly as the By-Law and Reticulation Policy already require. Backyarders cannot apply, because they are not authorised owners. That’s why this motion is necessary to empower the City of Cape Town to do what the law already expects it to do.

This is not a political favour. This is not an attack on any administration. This is a constitutional duty. It protects the City, residents, and lives, and prevents catastrophic liabilities from dangerous illegal connections, fires, child safety hazards, and preventable tragedies.

Whether you sit on the left, the right, or comfortably in the middle, this is not a party issue. It’s a people issue. It’s a City of Cape Town reputation issue. And it’s a compliance and safety issue.

We are calling on Council, on all parties, and on every rational public servant to support this motion.

Let us bring light, lawfully, safely, and sustainably. Let us protect residents with solutions, not excuses. Let us treat backyard dwellers not as an inconvenience, but as human beings living under our care and authority. Dignity is not a luxury. It is a constitutional right, and today, we choose dignity.

GOOD Education: The party emphasizes the need for quality education and skills development.

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