Andile Moshoeshoe
HOPE of electricity in the farm community of Thuthukani and KwaPakkies is edging towards reality. This followed the commencement of an electrification programme in the area, with Eskom officially introducing a contractor to the community.
The recent start of the construction project has brought so much joy to the local community, signalling the beginning of a long-awaited transformation.
Ward Councillor Ntombikhona Mfukuli confirmed that the contractor is already on site and will connect approximately 130 households to the electricity grid.
A similar rollout is expected to begin shortly in KwaPakkies where more than 60 households will also benefit from the project.
The contractor’s appointment follows the recent Operation Mbo government outreach programme in which lack of electricity and poor mobile network coverage emerged as community concerns.
During the outreach, local youth voiced their frustration, arguing that inadequate infrastructure continues to deprive them of access to educational, employment and economic opportunities that increasingly rely on digital connectivity.
Apparently, Mfukuli said that the electricity project marks a significant step towards improving the living conditions of the rural residents.
Godfrey Gwagwa of the Greater Kokstad Municipality’s Electrical Department explained that the current programme focuses on “in-fill” developments.
“These are homes that were constructed after the initial electrification programme had already been completed and therefore could not be connected at the time,” Gwagwa said.
He stressed that the project does not imply that entire communities had previously been without electricity. Rather, it is a response to population growth and the expansion of settlements, which has resulted in new households requiring access to the national electricity grid.
Greater Kokstad Municipality mayor Lwanda Madikizela said the municipality would also prioritise resolving the area’s poor mobile network coverage, acknowledging that digital connectivity has become essential for education, business and employment.
“We will engage with the relevant authorities and higher structures to find sustainable solutions to improve network coverage in these communities,” Madikizela said. He noted that poor signal reception continues to deny many young people access to opportunities that are increasingly available through online platforms.
