Ha-Muraga Electrification Partnership Project

1. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 1 Ha-Muraga Electrification Partnership Project Thulamela Municipality, Vhembe District Municipality, LIMPOPO PROVINCE

2. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 2 BACKGROUND Thulamela Municipality is a new Municipality that came into existence in 2000 and falls under the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province. Thulamela Municipality is not licensed by the NER to distribute electricity, which limits its ability to provide electricity services to its Communities. Ha-Muraga Village is a deep rural village and is about 30km east of Thohoyandou Town, Limpopo Province. This village is comprised of about 250 households.

3. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 3 PROJECT INNOVATIVENESS There were no basic services for which households of the Hamuraga village could be made to pay the Municipality for, prior to the commencement of this partnership. Irrespective of the rurality of the area, all households within the village are encouraged to pay R1 000 towards electrification. The Municipality subsidizes them per house connection. The project having been initiated by the Community, is solely owned by them.

4. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 4 PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND BEYOND  The agreement/arrangement with Eskom is for the handover of the Customers and the electrical network to Eskom on completion. Eskom then becomes responsible for the maintenance of the electrical network and the servicing of the resulting Customers.

5. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 5 ECONOMIC BENEFITS  Some of the households have since then upgraded their Spaza Shops. The existing shopping complex has been upgraded. The community can now afford to buy perishables to store at their own homes in refrigerators . The number of electrical equipments such as TV’s, radios, etc has increased significantly. This had a significant impact on the nearby towns namely, Malamulele and Thohoyandou Shopping centres. The village now has individuals with welding machines manufacturing windows and doorframes though at a small scale.

6. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 6 SOCIAL BENEFITS Though it can’t be attributed only to this project, the Matric results of the Thase High School at the Village has improved. The perception created and being shared by the school principal is that the project has played a major role. About 80% of the households are now benefiting from Free Basic Electricity. The community has been relieved of the frustrations confronting them during funeral arrangements. The hiring of generators has become an issue of the past.

7. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 7 IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES AND THE MUNICIPALITY IN PARTICULAR A few villages have since then decided to emulate these partnership approach. The following tables depict the extent of the contributions by the Communities and Municipality made thus far in these Partnership Projects.

8. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 8 Villages electrified after the electrification of Ha-Muraga

9. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 9 Villages currently being Electrified by Thulamela Municipality

10. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 10 Villages to be Electrified by Thulamela Municipality in 2005/6

11. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 11 Villages that have contributed fully to date

12. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 12 Villages whose contributions to date are between 80% to 90%

13. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 13 Villages whose contributions to date are between 50% to 79%

14. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 14 CONCLUSION These partnership Projects are creating and encouraging the culture of paying for services rendered by the Municipality. The already electrified proclaimed towns are opting for street/road surfacing partnership. Our residents in the urban areas are now clearing their long outstanding service debts which was standing at millions of Rands while continuing to pay for their current accounts. This partnership is now showing signs of developing to outside the borders of our Municipality or our District Municipality. The Provincial Government is now encouraging all municipalities in our Province to learn from this partnership and we feel very humbled to share our experiences with the rest of our colleagues for the sake of humanity.

15. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 15  1. NORMAL TARGET ON UNIVERSAL ACCESS = 20 12 2.MUNICIPAL BACKLOG.DME / ESKOM MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP

16. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 16

17. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 17 CURRENT ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT ( 2006/ 2007)TENDER ISSUED FOR THE FOLLOWING VILLAGES Tambaulate 74 Mulenzhe 98 Saselamane 292 We were given R160 000. 00 by the Premier during the celebration of the Tshaulu masiwani projects . The funds were for designing of the following villages. Projects Units 1.XimiXoni 100% 2.Tambaulate 100% 3.Saselemane 100% 4.Radali 80% 5.Tshiavha 100% 7.Tshikombani 100% 8.Milaboni 100% 9.Milaboni 100% The Implementation of counter fund from premier R1600 000. 00

18. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 18 Projects completed ( 2006/ 2007 )

19. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 19 R4 200 000.00 FUNDED BY VDMUnits to be electrified by above amount. 913 UNITSImplementation of R4 200 000.00

20. A submission for the Impumelelo Innovations Award 2005 20 VILLAGES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED 100% Kkakhanwa 415 Tovhowani 133 Kavele 32 Mubvumoni 200 Mbilwi magomani/ Ralushai 48 Tshilapfene 278 Makwarani 250 Design still to be done. CHALLENGES -Budget contraints ( Municipality can`t provide enough counter funding ) -Eskom not willing to advice us on area with capacity.