Power to the People

Soweto, the cluster of poor black suburbs outside South Africa's gleaming commercial capital, Johannesburg, has always epitomized the darkest side of apartheid. Since it was developed as a dormitory for black labor toward the end of the last century, the township has been largely lacking in basic necessities, including roads, transit faculties, plumbing and electricity. Indeed, Soweto's lack of lighting contributed significantly to the frustration that fueled the June 1976 riots that ultimately cost the lives of 600 blacks.

Since then, rail and bus services and housing programs have been improved. Now it looks as if Soweto may get electricity too. A consortium of South African banks has begun to issue government-guaranteed loans for a $177 million electrification program. If all goes according to plan, some 22,000 residents should get electricity in three months, although it will take four years to bring power to all of the township's 1 million residents.

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