It is going to be a bright Christmas for 1750 rural households in Nquthu where it was confirmed this weekend that electricity would be installed in wards 3, 10 and 13.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, under the leadership of MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube, had promised in 2014 that electricity would be given to the homes, where residents presently have to walk kilometers to collect firewood for fuel.
The project also comes as part of the provincial government’s commitment to eradicate a trend that has become known as “electricity islands”, in which certain communities had been deliberately neglected from electrification due to perceived political affiliation.
According to MEC Dube-Ncube, the Province has eradicated 74% of the islands, which is 43 of the 60 packaged projects which equates to 22 237 households.
MEC for Finance Belinda Scott, on behalf of MEC Dube-Ncube, who had a pressing engagement and could not be physically present during the event, visited this community to inspect the installation project. MEC Scott’s visit was warmly received by the communities, who are looking forward to turning their lights on just in time for the December holidays.
Addressing some 3000 community members, who had gathered at the kwaNgendla Sports Grounds, MEC Scott, expressed government’s appreciation for the communities patience, while this project was being implemented.