Thousands of rural homes in KZN get electricity for the first time

KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube joined thousands of community members to launch a R45-million electrification project on Tuesday.

“As government, we understand the importance of electricity to our rural communities,” said Dube-Ncube.

“These days people should not have to fetch firewood, which has been the daily experience of thousands of residents, especially women. To change their lives for the better, we are unrelenting in our efforts to ensure that all our communities have electricity.”

Dube-Ncube also visited the Gqumo family, where 68 year-old Thandekile Gqumo could not hold back her tears as the MEC, together with the mayor of uMvoti local municipality, brought her Christmas groceries.

Gqumo faces many hardships with having to raise six grandchildren in her three room mud house. Plans are already under way to provide her with a decent house.

Dube-Ncube called upon residents to ensure that the new electricity infrastructure is protected and that community members report any suspicious activity by people who might try to steal cables.

The MEC also called upon local residents to play their part in ensuring that they learn to save water since the province is experiencing a drought.

“We all have to save water and we urge all of you to be conserve water as much as possible and ensure that whenever there is rain, you harvest it so that you and your families can use rain water for various needs in your homes,” said Dube-Ncube.