Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Cllr Diko
Mayor of Matatiele, Councillor Mbedla
Other Councillors present here today
Elders and Leaders of the Community
Members of the Community
Officials of various Government Departments
Representatives of DBSA
Invited guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dumelang
I have come here today in Matatiele to celebrate with the residents of Ramafole on their achievement to be connected to the grid. Electricity is a basic need that should be enjoyed by all. It is indeed an honour to be here to witness what the Municipality of Matatiele, Eskom and the Department of Energy have done for the people of Ramafole. I would also like to thank the Municipality and Eskom, for their patience by allowing me time to come and celebrate this eventful day with you. I was informed you wanted to do the celebrations much earlier but had to accommodate my schedule. Thank You.
Ladies and Gentleman,
On my arrival this morning, I have had fruitful discussions with your leadership regarding challenges your municipality are facing. I am confident that we will find answers and lasting solutions to your challenges.
I also had another opportunity to visit some houses here in Ramafole, to conduct project inspection and also to see two families of Mothapa and Juqu; one headed by a child and the other by an elderly person with disability.
I would like to take this moment and congratulate Ntate Councillor Mbedla, Mayor of Matatiele Local Municipality, for showing that we are a caring government. Ntate Mbedla and his team did not stop at providing electricity to the two families I mentioned. But they went on further to buy furniture to the value of R10 000 for each family. Re ya leboga ntate Mayor.
Programme Director,
I have also come here today at Ramafole as part of my Public Participation Programme; a Programme that ensures that I visit various communities and stakeholders to determine how government services, especially electricity, are received by the communities we are serving. We are a caring government, and we want to remain a caring government.
It is important for us to work together with you to address challenges if there are any, and also celebrate successes together when there are successes. Just like we are celebrating here today at Ramafole.
There have been a number of connections accomplished in this ending financial year, and I am also aware that there is still a lot of ground to be covered. Eastern Cape remains one of the provinces with a huge backlog and we need address it. However we can only be able to address it when we work together.
Because Working Together We Can Do More.
Programme Director,
We should also take note that we are operating in a space where there are continuous budget cuts due to other increasing needs and other social responsibilities; and this calls for all of us, to do more with less.
This also calls for all of us to employ our resources wisely and purposefully and in a targeted manner. Nonetheless, government remains committed to better the lives of all South Africans.
The Department of Energy and its stakeholders also remain steadfast in ensuring that we reach the Universal Access to Electricity by 2025.
We have and will continue to allocate the necessary and sufficient resources to ensure that the vision of achieving universal access is achieved by 2025.
Programme Director,
I am fully aware that there is a huge backlog that needs to be addressed. We need to work together with other stakeholders on this matter to find lasting solutions. From my Department’s side, we will do all in our power to ensure that this obstacle is overcome.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The provision of basic services to our communities, including electricity, will remain a moving target, unless there is proper planning and coordination in all spheres of Government. This approach should jointly be supported by leaders and members of the communities alike.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The theft and vandalising of electricity infrastructure is also a cause for concern. Members of community, together with government should jealously guard this infrastructure, because it belongs to all of us.
We need to continue paying for services so that others could benefit and receive similar services that you received. On the other hand, we also need to put money aside to ensure that our infrastructure is well maintained, and well looked after.
Programme Director
In concluding,
I would like to say to the community of Matatiele, leaders from all sectors, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen,
- let us employ energy savings techniques
- let us use electricity sparingly
- Let us report theft of our infrastructure. Because this infrastructure belongs to all of you.
- let us work together.
Because Working Together We Can Do More.
I thank You.
