Rustenburg - Residents of the rural Seraleng community, just outside Rustenburg in the North West, will now be able to cook food, wash clothes and do other household chores in the evenings after being connected to the country's electricity grid.
The Minerals and Energy Minister, Dipuo Peters, on Thursday switched on the electricity in the small community as part of government's Public Participation Programme, which kicked off on Monday, giving citizens an opportunity to directly interact with government.
Gloria Tshabalala, 26, an unemployed mother of three, told BuaNews that her life would be much easier now that she had electricity in her home. She would no longer have to rely on a paraffin stove to cook and for boiling water.
"With electricity, cooking has become much easier and much faster, we don't have to spend money on paraffin," said Tshabalala with excitement.
Another resident, Johannes Sibalo, 41, said his children would now be able to study and do their homework with ease. "We hope that our children will do much better at school since they are able to study better," he said.
The minister said her department was committed to ensuring that every household in the country, especially in rural areas have electricity.
"As government, we are committed in ensuring the lives of our people change for the better. We want to ensure that people have proper services in their communities."
Of the more than 3000 RDP houses in the community, about 1000 houses have now been electrified. The remaining houses are expected to be electrified before March next year.
Government has set a target of ensuring all household, especially in rural areas, have electricity by 2014.
The minister, however, urged the community members to use electricity sparingly as the country's power was still under strain.
Parents must teach their children to use electricity sparingly as that will enable them to use the money for other things they need most. "Saving electricity means saving money and using it for other essentials," said Peters.
