POLOKWANE – Residents of Xikukwani village near Mashaba are frustrated by the ongoing lack of electricity, despite repeated promises from the Makhado Municipality.

Last Friday, they held a peaceful march to the Bokisi Traditional Council, covering about four kilometres to deliver a memorandum of grievances.

Although they intended to present it to Makhado Mayor Dorcus Mboyi, they handed it over to Robert Magada, the portfolio head of finance, in her absence.

Residents are particularly upset that the new electricity project for their village, initially included in the Makhado Municipality’s 2022/23 integrated development plan (IDP), was later removed.

Makhanani Kubayi expressed feelings of neglect over the prolonged lack of electricity, highlighting issues such as children having to do homework by candlelight and a high crime rate.

She also mentioned that solar panels provided by the municipality had mostly been stolen. Ephraim Ndou described additional challenges related to accessing water and education, such as the need to hire expensive water tankers and children having to travel more than 10 kilometres to school.

He demanded that the government build a local school to alleviate these hardships.

Muhle Mathebula, chairperson of the Hluvukiso committee, explained that the march was a result of repeated, unsuccessful attempts to engage with the municipality.

“We had requested meetings with Makhado Municipality officials several times over the years, but were ignored. That’s why we decided to march, and if they don’t respond to our grievances, we will take further action,” he said.

Robert Magada stated that discussions were ongoing with Eskom to obtain a licence to electrify the area. He clarified that while the land falls under the municipality’s jurisdiction, electricity licensing authority lies with Eskom.

“It’s not true that we promised them electricity after providing solar panels. We are also planning to address related issues with different departments,” Magada said.

Asked about the exclusion of the area from the electricity project despite its initial inclusion in the IDP, municipal spokesperson Louis Bobodi claimed the project remains in the IDP and will be implemented in the 2025/26 to 2026/27 financial years through the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP).