As the provincial government, we are fully committed to expanding access to electricity and water for rural communities, yesterday, 30 September, we officially switched on the Siphofu Electrification project in uMzumbe ward 12 which connects 334 households to the grid for the very first time. We also commissioned a production borehole in KwaMgayi ward 8.
These projects are all funded by Cogta and are part of efforts by the provincial government to expand access to water and electricity for rural communities in the Ugu District.
The investment in electrical infrastructure in rural communities brings positive socio-economic benefits as it allows communities to have access to the modern-day conveniences that are provided by electricity.
School-going children no longer have to utilise candlelight to do their homework and those that have to prepare food no longer have to rely solely on firewood, they can now use electric stoves.
As the department of Cogta, we continue to execute our constitutional mandate of supporting municipalities through several measures which include grant transfers for special projects that deliver basic services to our communities such as water and electricity.
We have provided funding to the tune of R4 million which has been used to build hand pumps and production boreholes in twelve areas within the municipalities of uMzumbe and uMuziwabantu. The borehole we commissioned yesterday in KwaMgayi forms part of the projects funded by this grant.
This is a tangible demonstration of the provincial government’s commitment to dealing with the water crisis facing communities within the Ugu District.
Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala
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