Date: 16/03/2004
Source: Ministry of Minerals and Energy
Title: P Mlambo-Ngcuka: Sod turning of Kgalagadi node
SPEECH NOTES BY MINISTER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY, MS PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKA, AT THE SOD TURNING OF KGALAGADI NODE, 16 March 2004
Provincial Representatives
King
Local Chief
Parents and School Children
It is for all of us to address the imbalances of the past.
We must bring equity to all South Africans. That equity starts with the provision of quality infrastructure through the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) that informs the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme (ISRDP) on the process that need to be followed to reach a sustainable universal access.
We need adequate funding in order to arrive at the desired standards of sustainable infrastructure development.
Electrification is the drive of that tool but other government departments through the three spheres and the other stakeholders play a significant role.
BACKLOG CHALLENGES
On national level, there are about 2 829 969 households that are without electricity.
Northern Cape has a backlog of 40 550 and North West has a backlog of 153 027 households without electricity.
In the past seven years, we have spend an amount of R63 277 811 - this amounted to about 16 909 households receiving electricity for the first time.
KGALAGADI NODE
The President of South Africa in his state of the nation address announced amongst other node Kgalagadi-Kalahari District Municipality to be prioritised as one of the areas that needs intensified service delivery and infrastructure development.
The Integrated National Electrification Programme has been one of the anchor project that pushes back the frontiers of poverty in this district.
NAME OF THE ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT
The following villages amongst others will benefit from this electrification project:
* Batlharong
* Rooipomp
* Mmatora
* Zero
* Camden
* Thamoyantshe
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The department appreciates the work that the municipality is doing for the Department of Minerals and Energy in terms of electrification with the assistance of the ESKOM, the implementing agent. The Integrated National Electrification programme includes electrification of households, schools and clinics. ESKOM and licensed municipalities apply for funding from the Department of Minerals and Energy.
VISION
The past imbalances made it difficult for rural communities to access essential services like electricity in their own villages.
Of that amount, Kgalagadi District Municipality received R22 475 000 for the 2003/2004 financial year.
We are about to achieve our vision of universal access in this node. By completing the programme by 2004/2005 which envisage to connect 3 211 households at the cost of R19,7 million. This vision would have being achieved.
The Department of Minerals and Energy in its daily efforts to give access to electricity to all and reach universal access by 2015 tries to channel all their income towards electrification.
In the last year alone, we have created 143 jobs.
THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITIES
People of Kgalagadi let us join hands and fight cable theft and illegal connections.
The installation of electricity connections is based on the strength of the transformer and the transmission lines. You will be electrified in the near future, when you have the electricity do not connect another person who is not officially connected by the municipality and/or because you will be overloading the system. This will lead to continuous electricity cut-offs and death of innocent children who step on these cables when playing. Electricity is dangerous when using it without necessary care.
Let us join hands with the South African Police Service through the Policing Forums to combat theft.
We are the primary beneficiaries of the electrification. We own the development that we see here today.
The municipality, local leaders, traditional leaders and all present here, please let us encourage other community members who are not here today to take ownership of this electricity and protect it from theft and illegal connections.
THE ROLE OF LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES
Through the Integrated Development Plans and the various desks of local economic development, I believe you have a good opportunity to market the products that are going to be produced through the projects.
BENEFITS IN THE COMMUNITY
Before 1997, there was nothing much happening in this part of South Africa i.e. the Kgalagadi District Municipality. That has changed after we realised the real need of the people of Kgalagadi.
BENEFITS OF ELECTRIFICATION IN HOUSEHOLDS; SCHOOLS AND CLINICS
Schools and community facilities may serve as informational, educational and economic hub. Electrification of these schools could benefit school children and the community as a whole in terms of adult learning centres.
School children and teachers will be able to get information through Internet. They will also view the world while in their schools by the click of the mouse.
Children could watch Biology and Mathematics videos to enhance the teaching methodology. They can also have extra hours of study and that will improve their results at the end at the year. The school could be used for adult education and skills training. Schools can also serve as constructive entertainment centres. People can be allowed to watch soccer.
Women can start or continue with their projects using the electricity in their homes. Their wood collection time can now be used to empower them with other skills that can assist them economically towards their daily households needs. The children; especially the girl child will have enough time to do her homework and develop her other cognitive skills that will assist later in life.
The safety of women and children is increased and the health of the rural people improved.
BENEFITS OF ELECTRIFICATION IN CLINICS
The treatment of patients at a clinic without electricity after dark is difficult, and health services can be enhanced through the availability of electricity.
At clinics vaccinations needs to be refrigerated at prescribed temperatures, which makes electricity essential.
The living conditions of staff at the schools and clinics can be improved.
I thank you all.
Issued by: Ministry of Minerals and Energy
16 March 2004
Source: Ministry of Minerals and Energy
Title: P Mlambo-Ngcuka: Sod turning of Kgalagadi node
SPEECH NOTES BY MINISTER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY, MS PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKA, AT THE SOD TURNING OF KGALAGADI NODE, 16 March 2004
Provincial Representatives
King
Local Chief
Parents and School Children
It is for all of us to address the imbalances of the past.
We must bring equity to all South Africans. That equity starts with the provision of quality infrastructure through the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) that informs the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme (ISRDP) on the process that need to be followed to reach a sustainable universal access.
We need adequate funding in order to arrive at the desired standards of sustainable infrastructure development.
Electrification is the drive of that tool but other government departments through the three spheres and the other stakeholders play a significant role.
BACKLOG CHALLENGES
On national level, there are about 2 829 969 households that are without electricity.
Northern Cape has a backlog of 40 550 and North West has a backlog of 153 027 households without electricity.
In the past seven years, we have spend an amount of R63 277 811 - this amounted to about 16 909 households receiving electricity for the first time.
KGALAGADI NODE
The President of South Africa in his state of the nation address announced amongst other node Kgalagadi-Kalahari District Municipality to be prioritised as one of the areas that needs intensified service delivery and infrastructure development.
The Integrated National Electrification Programme has been one of the anchor project that pushes back the frontiers of poverty in this district.
NAME OF THE ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT
The following villages amongst others will benefit from this electrification project:
* Batlharong
* Rooipomp
* Mmatora
* Zero
* Camden
* Thamoyantshe
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The department appreciates the work that the municipality is doing for the Department of Minerals and Energy in terms of electrification with the assistance of the ESKOM, the implementing agent. The Integrated National Electrification programme includes electrification of households, schools and clinics. ESKOM and licensed municipalities apply for funding from the Department of Minerals and Energy.
VISION
The past imbalances made it difficult for rural communities to access essential services like electricity in their own villages.
Of that amount, Kgalagadi District Municipality received R22 475 000 for the 2003/2004 financial year.
We are about to achieve our vision of universal access in this node. By completing the programme by 2004/2005 which envisage to connect 3 211 households at the cost of R19,7 million. This vision would have being achieved.
The Department of Minerals and Energy in its daily efforts to give access to electricity to all and reach universal access by 2015 tries to channel all their income towards electrification.
In the last year alone, we have created 143 jobs.
THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITIES
People of Kgalagadi let us join hands and fight cable theft and illegal connections.
The installation of electricity connections is based on the strength of the transformer and the transmission lines. You will be electrified in the near future, when you have the electricity do not connect another person who is not officially connected by the municipality and/or because you will be overloading the system. This will lead to continuous electricity cut-offs and death of innocent children who step on these cables when playing. Electricity is dangerous when using it without necessary care.
Let us join hands with the South African Police Service through the Policing Forums to combat theft.
We are the primary beneficiaries of the electrification. We own the development that we see here today.
The municipality, local leaders, traditional leaders and all present here, please let us encourage other community members who are not here today to take ownership of this electricity and protect it from theft and illegal connections.
THE ROLE OF LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES
Through the Integrated Development Plans and the various desks of local economic development, I believe you have a good opportunity to market the products that are going to be produced through the projects.
BENEFITS IN THE COMMUNITY
Before 1997, there was nothing much happening in this part of South Africa i.e. the Kgalagadi District Municipality. That has changed after we realised the real need of the people of Kgalagadi.
BENEFITS OF ELECTRIFICATION IN HOUSEHOLDS; SCHOOLS AND CLINICS
Schools and community facilities may serve as informational, educational and economic hub. Electrification of these schools could benefit school children and the community as a whole in terms of adult learning centres.
School children and teachers will be able to get information through Internet. They will also view the world while in their schools by the click of the mouse.
Children could watch Biology and Mathematics videos to enhance the teaching methodology. They can also have extra hours of study and that will improve their results at the end at the year. The school could be used for adult education and skills training. Schools can also serve as constructive entertainment centres. People can be allowed to watch soccer.
Women can start or continue with their projects using the electricity in their homes. Their wood collection time can now be used to empower them with other skills that can assist them economically towards their daily households needs. The children; especially the girl child will have enough time to do her homework and develop her other cognitive skills that will assist later in life.
The safety of women and children is increased and the health of the rural people improved.
BENEFITS OF ELECTRIFICATION IN CLINICS
The treatment of patients at a clinic without electricity after dark is difficult, and health services can be enhanced through the availability of electricity.
At clinics vaccinations needs to be refrigerated at prescribed temperatures, which makes electricity essential.
The living conditions of staff at the schools and clinics can be improved.
I thank you all.
Issued by: Ministry of Minerals and Energy
16 March 2004
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