Eskom bequeaths a multi-purpose centre to North West communities
MEC Wendy Nelson and Lynne Brown .
Below the two are flanked by Eskom Chairman Ben Ngubane and unidentified VIP at the Mokgalwaneng Village in Northam, North West outside Rustenburg.
Nie Cele
Believe it or not, Eskom Development Foundation has unleashed a life changing setting and earned a moniker name as the ‘hottest darling’ of Mokgalwaneng Village in Northam, North West outside Rustenburg.
This follows bestowing of a multi-purpose centre that boasts a community hall that can accommodate 600 people, four offices for the four villages’ tribal authorities, a sewing centre, a computer centre, a guardhouse, an ablution block as well as the paving and fencing.
The unveiling of this Centre magnetized hundreds of community members, school children, local chiefs, high level government dignitaries, mayors, coucillors and the power utility management that packed the marquee to the rafters.
Wendy Nelson, Finance,Enterprise and Economic Development MEC, told the packed audience that the construction of the centre was in line with the provinces priorities of changing the face and shape of the villages.
“This centre is right in your village and meant to bring service to the community. Look after it and treat it as yours,” She said
Mayor of Moses Kotane, RalesoleDiale, urged the community to utilise the centre.
Dr Ben Ngubane, Chairman for the power utility, said Eskom is committed to making a difference in communities in pursuit of their goal of finding long-term and sustainable solutions to the country’s many challenges.
“At Eskom, we consider ourselves as more than just an electricity provider. We see the upliftment of communities, especially the previously disadvantaged ones, as an important part of doing business. We want to see development in all the communities where we operate and even though we cannot do it all or do it alone, we continue to make a contribution so that communities are better off and the standard of living is improved for everyone.”
The event was also graced by the presence of Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown.
Brown told the chock-full audience that every community needs the power utility for their everyday lives.
“We must get the sewing group growing so we get to a place where it’s making the school uniforms of all the children in the community. We should be able to clothe and feed our community We should be able to build our community. This is an important part of what this centre means,” Brown said.
Cecil Ramonotsi, Acting CEO of the foundation, told this publication that this was part of the utility’s Corporate Social Investment programme and that the building was a developmental need requested by the community.
Did you know?
The donation forms part of Eskom’s commitment to bringing about meaningful and sustainable development in South Africa’s communities.
The Eskom Development Foundation is tasked with implementing Eskom’s CSI strategy in sectors including enterprise development, education, healthcare, social and community development.
The total cost of the centre is R7.5 million.
The Minister of Public Enterprises,Ms Lynne Brown and Eskom Chairman, Dr Baldwin Nunagubaneyofficially opened and handed over the MMMDMulti-purpose Community Centre today at Mokgalwaneng Village in Northam, North West. The centre will benefit community members from the neighbouring villages of Mokgalwaneng, Matlametlong, Matsinyane and Disake (MMMD), which it is named after.
The centre, which boasts various facilities, was built by the Eskom Development Foundation as part of its corporate social investment (CSI) programme.The Foundation’s scope of work in building the centre included the construction of a community hall that can accommodate 600 people, the construction of four offices for the four villages’ tribal authorities, a sewing centre, a computer centre, a guardhouse, an ablution block as well as the paving and fencing.
The Foundation also provided equipment and other items for the centre which included computers, wiring and installation, Wi-Fi connection, printer, sewing machines, tables, office furniture, chairs for the community hall, benches and a podium.
