City supports installation and piloting of solar bulbs and vegetable garden

Imogen Vollenhoven
29Novemeber 2012

The City of Cape Town has today installed retro-fitted solar bulbs and modular vertical vegetable gardens to three informal dwellings.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the pilot project will create opportunities for livelihoods and nutrition.

Smith added that the project also aims to reduce the spread of fires in informal settlements.

Furthermore he said that the point is to try and make sure people have alternative lights sources so that they don’t have to use flammable or combustible light sources that cause the risk of a fire.

The City has over the last two years expanded the fire fighting capacity of the department, but he adds that more fire fighting and more staff can only do so much.

He said that the better option is to still try and prevent the fires and this initiative is aimed at helping to prevent those kind of accidents in the future by helping the public in informal settlements get rid of all the flammable items in the homes.