Residents of Xinkuwani village around Mashaba are fed up with living in an area where no electricity is available. The situation remains the same, despite promises made by the Makhado Municipality.
On Friday, 3 May, a group of more than 70 residents held a peaceful march from their village to the Bokisi Traditional Council, covering approximately four kilometres, to deliver their memorandum of grievances. Their intention was to present it to Makhado Mayor Dorcus Mboyi, but in her absence, they handed it over to Mr Robert Magada, portfolio head of finance.
The residents have many unanswered questions. One concerns the fact that nothing has happened after their village's new electricity project was initially included in the Makhado Municipality's 2022/23 integrated development plan (IDP) but then removed.
Ms Makhanani Kubayi said they were feeling neglected and ashamed because of the prolonged lack of electricity. "Our children have to write school homework and study using candles, which is a big problem, and we have a high crime rate. We were given solar panels by the municipality, but most of them were stolen," she said.
Mr Ephraim Ndou explained the challenges of accessing water and education, which necessitate expensive alternatives such as hiring water tankers and facing long distances to nearby schools. "We also demand that the government build a school as our children are tired of traveling more than 10 kilometres to nearby schools," he said.
Mr Muhle Mathebula, chairperson of the Hluvukiso committee, said they had attempted to engage with the municipality, without success, leading to the decision to march. "We had requested a meeting with the officials from the Makhado Municipality several times for years, but we were ignored. That's why today we decided to march, and if they don't respond to our grievances, we will see what to do," he said.
Mr Robert Magada said that they had discussed with Eskom to obtain a license to electrify the area. He clarified that although the land is under the municipality's jurisdiction, the authority for electricity licensing lies with Eskom. "It's not true that we promised them electricity after providing solar panels. We are also planning to escalate other related matters with different departments," said Magada.
The municipality's spokesperson, Mr Louis Bobodi, was asked for reasons for the exclusion of the area from the electricity project, despite its being initially included in the IDP. Bobodi did not answer exactly what he was asked; instead, he claimed that the project was in the IDP. "It will be implemented in the next two financial years, 2025/2026 up to 2026/2027, by the municipality through the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP)," said Bobodi.