Hope of receiving electricity is fading

For the residents of Zamenkomste in the Kutama area, the hope of receiving electricity from the Makhado municipality is fading away.

Residents are fed-up with the lack of services at the new stands and they say they have been living in houses with no electricity since 2009. “We are living in terrible conditions. We want the municipality to make good on their promises to provide services to our people,” says Mr Nthambeleni Musandiwa, one of the residents.

The people regard themselves as forgotten and feel that, even if they go out and vote in the coming election, it does not mean that anything will change for them. So far, the promises made to them have not been honoured.

"We are tired of using candles and primus stoves instead of electricity and we do not want to chop down trees anymore," Musandiwae said.  He accused the municipality of wasting taxpayers’ money. He mentioned that he was so surprised when one of the municipal workers in the department of electricity, who had relocated to about 50 meters away from his stand, received electricity in February in 2012.

The secretary of the Zamenkomste traditional council, Mr Samson Luruli, confirmed that all the people of Zamenkomste are shocked about this delay to complete the job. "We, the ordinary people, want to know why there is a delay in electrifying our village, whereas others have electric lights.”

The spokesperson for the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, said the municipality would supply electricity to the area during the 2012/13 financial year .

News - Date: 19 September 2013

Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

Email: [email protected]