On Wednesday, in Limpopo, more than 70 villagers from Xinkuwani marched to demand electricity. The village has lacked power since being established eight years ago. One of the protesters, Promise Maremeni, a seamstress, struggles with her manual sewing machine, resulting in lost sales. Demonstrators marched approximately 4 km to the Bokisi traditional municipal office and presented their demands to Makhado Municipality Mayor Dorcus Mboyi. The community called for electrification, raising concerns about increased crime rates due to the darkness. Villagers waved banners stating, “No electricity, no voice!” and “We have the right to electricity.” Makhado Municipality’s Robert Magada acknowledged the delay, explaining that while the land is municipal, Eskom is responsible for electrification. The municipality has asked Eskom to allow it to proceed with the installation. Villagers like Maremeni face financial hardships, while others, such as Sarah Baloyi, are unemployed and find it risky to collect firewood. The matter will be discussed further with the mayor and Eskom.
Original Source: GroundUp News
Date: 2024-05-02 13:03:33
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