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20 March 2009

The Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica (MP), the President of African National Congress (ANC), Mr Jacob Zuma and the Premier S’bu Ndebele invites the members of the media to attend Benedict Electrification Switch On and Sod Turning ceremony.

The department and Eskom will connect 3 000 households at the amount of 3 million for the next financial year 2009/10 at Nkandla area. PetroSA CEO will do sod turning for Integrated Energy Centre which will be build by PetroSA.

The number of un-electrified households in Nkandla Local Municipality is estimated at 23 797 with an annual growth of 1%. The Municipality constitutes about 26% of the total District backlog of 91 273. Electrification backlog is concentrated in rural areas and implementation of projects is done by Eskom as the distribution license holder.

The household backlog to date 31 March 2009 in KwaZulu-Natal is 813,315 with 1% growth in rural areas and 2% growth in urban areas per annum and the schools backlog is at 2 130. KwaZulu-Natal account for 24% of the total national backlog of 3,3 million households.

Department of Minerals and Energy’s mandate is to ensure that all South African households would have had access to electricity by 2014. This is a part of the broader government electrification programme which government has engaged on it for the past 15 years.

Benedict Electrification Switch On will take place as follows:

Date: 25 March 2009
Time: 09h00
Venue: eMjaweni, Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal province

The delegates will be led by Minister Sonjica, the President of ANC Jacob Zuma and the Premier Mr S’bu Ndebele.

Enquiries:
Zingaphi Jakuja
Tel: 012 679 9079
Fax: 012 769 9061
Cell: 082 453 2434
E-mail: zingaphi.jakuja@dme.gov.za

For media RSVP’s Contact:
Solly Phetla
Tel: 012 679 9042
Fax: 012 769 9061
Cell: 076 765 3863 / 079 045 4253
E-nail: solomon.phetla@dme.gov.za or dmemedia@gmail.com

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
20 March 2009