Joe Slovo settlement to go solar

More than 2600 new homes in Joe Slovo settlement in Cape Town will be fitted with solar-powered geysers, the human settlements department announced on Thursday.

The multi-million rand project, which would be funded by the Danish government, was launched by Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale.

"[The households] will receive solar-powered geysers as part of government’s programme to create better living conditions for residents of the former Joe Slovo informal settlement," the department said in a statement.

"The units will be fitted with 2639 solar geysers at a cost of R18 million."

It said the houses had been specifically designed to accommodate the water-heating equipment.