THOHOYANDOU – The Mphaphuli Development Trust handed a cheque of R200 000 to the Thulamela Municipality to subsidise the electrification of Matsika and Tshifura villages. The function took place at the Thulamela Municipality mayor’s office on Monday.

More than 250 households in Matsika village collected R152 000 for the electrification partnership with the municipality. The whole project would need R252 000 and the Mphaphuli Development Trust donated the remaining R100 000. The electrification of 175 Tshifura village households would need R193 000 and villagers managed to collect R93 000 on their own. The Mphaphuli Development Trust forked out the remaining R100 000.

When handing over the cheque, Chief Gole Mphaphuli expressed appreciation towards the Thulamela Municipality for their successful and unique electrification partnership with the community.

“Based on previous successful partnership programmes, we felt we had to do something to encourage the municipality and the villagers to continue with their good work. Our development trust aims at improving the lives of our fellow community members and we will continue to make sure that our people are getting proper and quality services. We urge other community structures to follow suit and assist the poor so that they may enjoy life like others. We also want to strengthen the bond between traditional leadership and the municipality because we need to work together to develop our community…”

The cheque was accepted by the mayor of the Thulamela Municipality, Khosi Thivhulawi Makumbane. He thanked the Mphaphuli Development Trust for their commitment to improving the lives of the citizens of Thulamela Municipality.

* It was also announced during the function that the Premier of the Limpopo Province, Sello Moloto, will accept the Mpumelelo Award on behalf of the Thulamela Municipality, in Cape Town on 10 December. Thulamela Municipality is one of the six recipients of the prestigious award, selected from over 600 entries. The municipality’s award is based on its unique electrification partnership with the communities.