B Sonjica: Sod-turning and switch-on event of Benedict substation in
Nkungumathe

25 March 2009

Programme director
Honourable Premier of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Honourable Sbu Ndebele
Honourable Former Deputy-President of the Republic and President of the African
National Congress (ANC), Mr Jacob Zuma
MECs of the KZN Provincial Legislature
Our Honoured Traditional Leaders here present
Honourable Mayor of Nkandla Local Municipality and local councillors
Senior and all officials of government
Members of the community
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen

The work of government continues till the new government is sworn in. Also
if the work does not go on there is the possibility of rollovers which are
undesirables.

It is indeed a great honour for me to have been received in Nkandla today.
My being here and amongst you represents a critical milestone in the delivery
of the responsibilities that the people of this country have asked me to carry
out.

It was mainly in the rural areas where our people's resistance against
colonialism was waged, and also, where Chief Bambatha's heroic rebellion in
1906 paved the way for the formation of the African National Congress in 1912
and the unity of our people.

We know from our history that the rural and outlying areas of our country
were deliberately left out of the developmental route because as Africans we
had to stay subordinate and dependent. Rural development is at the centre of
government's commitment to service delivery, and it must happen.

For decades the majority of the people of South Africa have suffered in a
lot of different ways. The previous government and homeland governments never
developed any infrastructure to the rural areas. To illustrate this point
further, the number of un-electrified households in the local municipality is
estimated at 23 797 with an annual growth of one percent. The municipality
constitutes about 26 percent of the total district backlog of 91 273.

As a responsible and caring government, we have to correct all of the wrongs
of the past and bring services closer to all our people wherever they choose to
live. We have to do this even in the face of all the challenges ahead of
us.

Programme director, Nkandla is one of those places I referred to just now.
It is also one of those where electricity infrastructure has been non-existent.
Lack of infrastructure is the reason delivery of electricity has been slow.
This challenge is however being addressed by identifying and constructing bulk
infrastructure projects such as Benedict Substation.

Bulk infrastructure projects like the Benedict substation will enable
electricity networks to handle additional loads. Construction of these bulk
infrastructure projects will further more enable electrification of future
housing developments.

Background to the Benedict substation:

* The project commenced in February 2007 and was commissioned in March
2008.
* The total budget for the project was R48 057 million.
* The Benedict substation was initiated due to the anticipated load growth
along the Mthonjaneni – Melmoth route.
* The project is expected to supply (i) 23 797 house connections, (ii) Nkandla
town, (iii) Industrial, commercial and pumping loads.
* The Benedict substation will enable Eskom to carry out Department of Mineral
and Energy (DME) funded electrification projects.
* There are 10 500 new connections that have been identified to benefit from
the substation.
* Already more than 3 000 have been identified by the municipality in
consultation with DME and Eskom to be done for 2008/9 financial year.

During the course of construction the following jobs were created:

Number of temporary job opportunities (male): 36
Number of temporary job opportunities (female): 10
Number of permanent workers (not full time employees of contractor) male:
12
Number of permanent workers (not full time employees of contractor) female:
2

Electrification programme

2009/10 Electrification programme (households)

Project name: Maphuthu/Vuleka Phase 2
Allocation: R13 755 000
Connections: 917

Project name: Cholwane/Nqundu/Matshezimpisi
Allocation: R18 045 000
Connections: 1 203

Project name: Nhloyane
Allocation: R12 300 000
Connections: 820

Project name: Ohlelo/Nkungumathe/Matshensikazi
Allocation: R13 45 000
Connections: 903

Total
Allocation: R57 645 000
Connections: 3 843

2009/10 Plan (schools)

Project name: Funizwe P
Allocation: R322 784
Project type: School

Project name: Mathanda School
Allocation: R74 100
Project type: School

Project name: Ndukuyakhe School
Allocation: R74 100
Project type: School

Project name: Nkanyiso H
Allocation: R86 567
Project type: School

Project name: Zikhali P School
Allocation: R116 111
Project type: School

Project name: Enyawoshane CP School
Allocation: R520 980
Project type: School

Project name: Fangelakhe P School
Allocation: R375 888
Project type: School

Project name: Zungeni P School
Allocation: R375 774
Project type: School

Project name: Manyala P School
Allocation: R226 228
Project type: School

Project name: Mbonomuhle P School
Allocation: 321 988
Project type: School

Project name: Ingweni Phaphama P
Allocation: R482 220
Project type: School

Total
Allocation: R2 976 739

2008/09 Electrification programme

Project name: Nxamalala Phase 2
Allocation: R12 500 000
Output: 996 connections

Total
Output: 996 connections

20010/11 Projects

Project name: Mfongosi
Allocation: Pre Engineering
Output: 1 339 connections

Project name: Ebugwini
Allocation: Pre Engineering
Output: 1 363 connections

Project name: Ekhombe
Allocation: Pre Engineering
Output: 1 058 connections

Project name: Hlomedlini
Allocation: Pre Engineering
Output: 1 783 connections

Total
Output: 5 543 connections

Schools and clinics

2008/09 Programme

Project name: Hambaywedwa P
Allocation: R295 526
Project type: School

Project name: King Cetshwayo SS
Allocation: R146 101
Project type: School

Project name: Makhathini CP
Allocation: R88 784
Project type: School

Project name: Mphahlensi S
Allocation: R84 598
Project type: School

Project name: Siphahleni P
Allocation: R252 271
Project type: School

Project name: Esihosheni PS
Allocation: R284 662
Project type: School

Project name: Amayese PS
Allocation: R331 195
Project type: School

Project name: Siphande CP
Allocation: R390 762
Project type: School

Total
Allocation: R1 873 899

In order to reach universal access within the local municipality, an
estimated amount of R142 782 000 excluding provision for bulk infrastructure
development, needs to be made available over the next four years.

2009/10 Schools plan

Project name: Funizwe P
Allocation: R322 784
Project type: School

Project name: Mathanda P School
Allocation: R74 100
Project type: School

Project name: Ndukuyakhe School
Allocation: R74 100
Project type: School

Project name: Nkanyiso H
Allocation: R86 567
Project type: School

Project name: Zikhali P School
Allocation: R116 111
Project type: School

Project name: Enyawoshane CP
Allocation: R520 980
Project type: School

Project name: Fangelakhe P School
Allocation: R375 888
Project type: School

Project name: Zungeni P School
Allocation: R375 774
Project type: School

Project name: Manyala P School
Allocation: R226 228
Project type: School

Project name: Mbonomuhle P School
Allocation: R321 988
Project type: School

Project name: Ingweni Phaphama P
Allocation: R482 220
Project type: School

Total
Allocation: R2 976 739

In order to reach universal access within the local municipality, an
estimated amount of R142 782 000 excluding provision for bulk infrastructure
development, needs to be made available over the next of four years.

Honourable Premier and guests, we are here today to celebrate access to
services and the breaking of the back of energy poverty for the people of
Nkandla. A new page has been turned in the book of the history of this place. I
implore you to look after this important infrastructure.

Even as access to electricity becomes a reality today, we need to be
reminded of the reality of where we are. Energy conservation is a "must do". We
cannot afford the luxury of any kind or amount of wastage. Energy conservation
has to be a way of life not just in Nkandla or the rural areas, but also in the
more affluent areas of our country. This we must do together as a nation. It
can only serve us better tomorrow if we are careful today.

In Nkungumathe the sod turning of the PetroSA project will imply that the
R13 million investments will see the centre to house services like home
affairs, a computer room, and others.

There are also bursary schemes that will be administered through the office
of MEC Ina Cronje. These bursaries are for those children who have mathematics,
science and geography. These bursaries are also for the benefit of those
children from poor and depressed families. The bursars also have opportunities
of finding work directly after completing their studies.

I need hardly remind you that we are just 28 days away from our fourth
democratic elections. Do exercise your hard-won rights and vote to enrich
democracy and a better life.

Savumelana! Thula!

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
25 March 2009