Government was able to provide 5,5 million households access to electricity in 1994, with the number increasing to 10 million in 2012. It is envisaged in the National Development Plan (NDP) that in order to grow the economy, the country must double the amount of power generated by 2030.
The story of energy provision in the Aganang context shows that out of the municipality’s 33 918 households, 31 982 have access to electricity, while only 1 936 are not electrified.
A total of 4 688 impoverished households who have access to electricity further benefit from the Free Basic Energy (FBE) scheme and receive 50KWH electricity tokens free of charge monthly. These are households who have an income of less than R3 200 and are listed on the municipality’s indigent register.
Budget allocations are also made from the 2010/11 financial year for provision of Free Basic Alternative Energy (FBAE) to households without access to electricity.
When the programme started in 2010, there were 350 beneficiaries, but in the current financial year (2013/14) only 250 households are benefitting, mainly due to strides made in electrifying of households. FBAE beneficiaries receive a starter gel stove and lamp, further receiving top up gel and oil for the lamps over 11 months. List of FBAE beneficiaries is reviewed annually.
The FBAE programme has made sure we no longer have households depending on firewood for their energy needs thus eradicating deforestation and decrease of our carbon footprint.
Projects of electrifying 628 households in village extensions in the current financial year are at design stage. These extensions are in among other villages Kalkspruit, Mars, Diana, Jupiter, Sebora, Vlakfontein, Rametlwana, Mahoai, Londsdale, Mabopane, Kordon and Monyoaneng. This translates to a backlog of only 1 169 by the end of the financial year, but of course it is appreciated that this is a moving target as we experience growth of our villages. The motto,”Mmogo re tla kgona” is then a rally call to all stakeholders to ensure a better life for all becomes a reality through Integrated Development Planning. While we acknowledge there are sometimes challenges in terms of service delivery, the above statistics are a cause for celebration.
Malesela Maubane is a Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa-certified public relations practitioner and media Lliaison officer for Aganang Local Municipality
