Award Criteria
How are award-winners assessed?
 

Innovativeness

The extent to which creative and new procedures have been developed to address poverty-related issues.

Effectiveness

The extent to which the Project has achieved or is on the way to achieving its stated objectves and other socially desirable outcomes.

Poverty Impact

The demonstrable effect of the Project in improving the quality of life of poor communities and individuals.

Sustainability

The viability and sound functioning of the Project within constraints that include funding and staffing.

Replicability

The value of the Project in teaching others new ideas and good practises for poverty-reduction programmes.

 
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Electrification of Ha-Muraga Village

This project was initiated by the Ha-Muraga village with help from the Thulamela Municipality to provide electricity to 220 households in Ha-Muraga village in the Limpopo Province. The project began in August 2004 with funding from the Ha-Muraga village, totaling R200 000, and the municipality provided an additional R700 000. Distribution and administration of electricity is currently carried out by Eskom. Lufuno Mphaphuli and Associates provided the project management and engineering expertise during completion.

In accordance with the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), electricity was provided by Eskom to the Thulamela Municipality in 26 wards, totaling 46 villages, during a 6 year period beginning in 2001.  Ha-Muraga was not slated for inclusion amongst the original villages, and took active steps in bringing the project to them.  R200 000 was raised through contributions from personal income and fundraising from members of the Ha-Muraga village, where unemployment is over 70%.  Prompted by the dedication shown by the community the Thulamela Municipality agreed to supply the remaining R700 000 in order to fully fund the project. The project partners included Eskom, the community of Ha-Muraga village and Lufuno Phaphuli and Associates, who provided management and engineering expertise.  

 Innovation

Monthly energy committee forums were held in Ha-Muraga which created the realisation amongst villagers that the only way to bring electricity into their village was to raise the funds necessary themselves.  Community funding, through personal donations and fundraisers, provided the initial R200 000 for the project.  The municipality then provided the remaining R700 000 to complete the project. 

Effectiveness

After monthly educational meetings with the municipality were held, and issues highlighting all the illegal activities the village had been conducting were discussed, the villagers chose to take ownership of those problems and make the necessary changes.  220 households have now been provided with reliable electricity, and Eskom has successfully taken over as service provider.    

Poverty Impact

The electrification of these households has made cooking and heating safer, and provided people with an essential basic service.

Sustainability

Initial costs totaled R900 000. This project has been completed, resulting in no additional costs to the municipality, allowing for matters of payments and maintenance to be taken over entirely by Eskom.

Replication

Additional municipal and community partnerships have formed in other villages, using this shared resource model, and along with assistance from Eskom, has resulted in the provision of electricity to an additional 10 villages, including 2 241 households, in 6 wards. 

Partnerships:

  • Thulamela Municipality
  • Eskom Distribution
  • Lufuno Mphaphuli and Associates
     
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