The AfriForum branch in Rustenburg welcomes the Rustenburg Local Municipality’s action plan for the improvement of power supply to the rural areas of the south eastern environs of the town (the R24 area). This follows AfriForum’s continuous pressure on the municipality through letters to the municipality as well as Nersa.
AfriForum’s local branch was inundated by complaints from many residents and businesses about the power failures. Some residents said that the problem has been around for many years now. Resident from among other Waterkloof, Rhenosterfontein, Zuurplaat, Arnoldistad, Kroondal, Waterval, Modderfontein, Boschfontein and Oorsaak are regularly burdened by these power failures.
“Most residents of these areas live on smallholdings and use boreholes. Power failures affect these people’s access to clean water, because pumps do not work during power failures. It also causes safety risks because electric fences are off. Other electronic devices are also damaged. We welcome the municipality’s action plan, but will monitor the implementation thereof, because we cannot count on the municipality,” says Petrus Coetzee, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Marico.
According to the action plan, the municipality is currently building a new 11 kV power line to provide the above areas with power. The municipality says that the new line will be completed by the end of February, which will then ensure improved power supply to these areas.
AfriForum encourages community members to get involved and become a part of the solution: SMS “Rustenburg” to 45351 (R1).