By Celani Sikhakhane
- Alpheus Sondezi and his neighbours received solar panels and electricity to help them escape high paraffin prices and load shedding.
- A deadly December storm destroyed twenty local houses and delayed the new power project after causing millions in infrastructure damage.
A 73-year-old man from a rural village near Newcastle has finally switched on the lights in his home. Alpheus Mafihla Sondezi has lived in the Chanceni village in Utrecht without power since 1969.
He and his neighbours recently received solar panels and electricity. The power connection means they will no longer pay high prices for paraffin or sit in the dark during load shedding.
“I came to this area in 1969 and since then we have been using candles and paraffin,” Sondezi said.
He said his children grew up without power, but he is happy his grandchildren will have light. “They will be able to do their school work without any problem of running out of candles,” he said.
The community waited a long time to get connected. A deadly storm ripped through the area in December and delayed the power project.
The Christmas floods destroyed over 20 houses across three different wards and injured three people.
The storm caused R10 million in damage to local infrastructure. This was a heavy blow to the eMadlangeni Local Municipality, which struggles to pay for basic services.
Mayor Lawrence Buthelezi said the town only has a budget of R139 million to provide services for six wards. He said the municipality does not collect rates to increase its funds.
“We have a small budget of only R139 million in the country while other municipalities are getting billions,” Buthelezi said.
He said the flood damage caused a serious budget crisis.
“Just imagine we had a serious crisis of floods that cost us R10 million on the damaged infrastructure,” he said.
The mayor said the small budget leaves almost nothing for the community.
“As we speak we have set aside only R45 000 for women projects. That is painful,” he said.
Pictured above: Alpheus Sondezi of Chanceni village with eMadlangeni Local Municipality Mayor Lawrence Buthelezi during the handover of electricity to his home.
Image source: Celani Sikhakhane
