Pietermaritzburg - Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has officially unveiled a computer centre with high speed internet connectivity in the rural village of Imbali, outside Pietermaritzburg.
The event was in honour of the legacy of the late former President Nelson Mandela, ahead of International Mandela Day.
There are 21 computers at the centre located at the local community hall.
“When I visited the area, I discovered that most of the kids did not go to school as they were lingering in the streets during school hours.
“We believe that the computer centre will help young people to connect with the world. Young people are no longer going to travel long distances to access internet They will get it right at their doorsteps. We are doing all these emulating the footsteps of Madiba,” said the Minister.
The Minister had also identified seven families to benefit from a housing project.
“I’m happy that … the municipality has committed to building houses for five families. I was able to get sponsors to finish the other two,” she said.
Contractors have promised that all the houses, which will have six rooms, will be completed in two weeks. The municipality will also provide services such as electricity, water as well as furnishing for the houses.
The houses and the computer centre were sponsored by cellular network provider, Vodacom.
“The people of this area are now feeling the visit by President Jacob Zuma,” said the Minister.
The President held an Imbizo in the Msunduzi Municipality in Pietermaritzburg in September last year. Thereafter Minister Muthambi was deployed to conduct a door to door service delivery campaign in the area.
Realising the devastating living standards of residents, the Minister adopted ward 14 and further identified seven families for houses. Most of the families were living in small, overcrowded mud houses.
One of the beneficiaries, Madondo Mlandeli Nsiyane, said he lived with nine people in a three-roomed shabby mud house.
“There is no privacy and we survived through piece jobs. We are glad that government brought us our dignity by building this house for us. I do not have enough words to thank Minister Muthambi,” said the 53-year-old.
Nineteen-year-old, Sanele Mathe, said she could not wait for the new house to be completed.
“We are 15 people living in this two-roomed house and there is no privacy and I can’t wait for the new house to be completed…we are really grateful for this decent house.”
The minister earlier in the day had led a campaign to clean the Willowfontein River, joined by chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development, Ruth Bhengu.
She then proceeded to check progress on the construction of the seven houses that are being built for the child-headed and poverty stricken families, where together with Bhengu, joined the constructors in building the houses.
She also donated school uniforms to learners from destitute families.
Tomorrow, 18 July, South Africans and the world have been called to devote 67 minutes of their time to doing community work in honour of Madiba.-SAnews.gov.za
