MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: The community of Lokaleng Village consisting of Ward 2 and 33 residents last week submitted a memorandum of their grievances on the lack of electricity for the past six years, saying while they had on numerous occasions written to the local Councillors to intervene, they received no results.
Despite making applications and writing to the municipality to get electricity for over 300 plus residents, the residents still have no electricity as they rely on wood for cooking and candles for lighting, which they deemed a serious violation of their human rights for not been provided with these basic needs.
The memorandum was submitted at the Mahikeng Local Municipality with hopes that the 300 plus residents who are without electricity, will get intervention from the local authorities.
Speaking to Lebo Motsei, the community said that for the longest time, the village had to face life without electricity. They commented that there are some residents in the area who have access to electricity, while others don’t.
“We have tried all the channels to get electricity - with no success. Lokaleng residents have been living in the dark without electricity for a period not less than 6 years. This poses a danger to vulnerable children, woman, elderly, and people with disabilities and businesses that are supposed to bring development to the areas. Many househouseholds are struggling and our children also struggle as they need light to do their homework.”
“Despite numerous failed attempts to call meetings and send communications to the current Councillors (Tshepiso Motshabi and Shakara Malakaje) those who were duly elected to office by the community to represent them and bring improvements to their village, there is still no access to electricity in these areas.
“This might lead to illegal electricity connections, which will then lead to unlawful usage and fatal accidents. We now write this letter as a final demand on behalf of the Lokaleng community in Ward 2 and 33, as it is the Constitutional right of the residents to be provided with access to electricity.”
The community said they were giving the municipality seven days to respond - with hopes that the office executive Mayor, Tshepiso Mphehlo, would intervene on their behalf.
