Villagers to step into the light with R11 million electrification project

THE Greater Tzaneen Municipality officially launched a rural electrification project in ward 18 of Muhlava Cross last Wednesday.

The project is aimed at providing electricity to 1 099 households in three villages at a cost of over R11 million.

Greater Tzaneen mayor, Dikeledi Mmetle said the project would be implemented in two stages.

She said the first phase would see 522 households being electrified in JB village before the end of June, while 577 households in Wisani and Shikwabane villages would be electrified in the next phase starting from July.

Mmetle said a lack of electricity limited education and economic opportunities, and by providing electricity to the remote villages, government was trying to address and improve the socio-economic conditions of the villagers.

“As government we are committed to continue improving the lives of our people by providing energy to the villages that have never before had access to electricity,” said the mayor.

Mmetle added that the project would have a massive impact on the quality of life of the residents in the three villages. Simon Dolamo, the director of Leshika Consulting Electrical Engineers, the company that has been appointed to implement the project, said about 30 local people would be employed in the implementation of the first phase of the project and the number could increase in the next stage.

He said work would begin in earnest from the beginning of February.

A clearly overjoyed beneficiary, Jerry Malatji said his life would never be the same again after his house had been electrified.

He said life without electricity was very tough, especially in the villages.