HA-MUFEBA – The Makhado Municipality officially opened the electricity project at Mufeba settlement on June 6.

According to Cllr NP Muladi, the electrification project was started in July of the previous financial year. About R700 000 was utilised for the electrification of Ha-Mufeba.

When asked about the timespan within which the project should have been completed, Muladi elaborated that it had been agreed that it should have been completed in a period not exceeding six months, but due to some technical problems, this limit was exceeded. "We are not supposed to worry about the delay, let us celebrate because we've completed it [the project]" he said. It was further revealed that at least 30 people in the village had been employed during the project.

"In the last financial year the municipality managed to bring electricity to Matshavhawe, Tshitavha Mazuwa, Phadzima, Xitachi, Mukhoro, Nthabalala and Mavhunga villages, to mention but a few," Muladi explained. He added that the Municipality had appointed Leshika & BIC Engineers and LM Nkosi as a contractor. At Ha-Mufaba, about 288 units were allocated in this project. "In each finacial year, we manage to supply electricity to previously marginalised communities." According to Mr Simon Matodzi Maelula of Eskom in Waterval, they issued a map of the village which they handed over to the Municipality and when they had finished the project, Eskom came back to evaluate the lines and prepaid meters. "If everything is correct, the municipality then hands it over to us, to start rendering our profesional services to the community" he said.

Cllr MB Tlakula encouraged pupils to work hard at school in order to improve the grade 12 results in the Province. An unemployed beneficiary, Mrs Sinah Hlungwane, thanked the municipality for electrifiying the village. "I stay with my two sons and we are surviving because of the child grant of my second son, who is 3 years old".