Challenging year for Lephalale

2013 will be a challenging year for Lephalale municipal manager, Bob Naidoo, told Northern News last week. Because of the rapid growth of the town, infrastructure remains under pressure, but Naidoo is adamant that enough plans are in place to provide sufficient services to its residents.
“We intend to expand, for instance, the electricity grid. Around 80% of the new substation should be finished within this year and by the end of the first quarter of 2014 Lephalale should have tripled its electricity capacity.”
“[Meanwhile] we are excited about the imminent completion of several infrastructure projects which started last year. Lephalale has become a construction site and we will be very happy with the completion of the water, sanitation and road projects in the near future, ” Naidoo said.
“We will also focus this year on providing more infrastructure and services to our rural areas as R50 million has been budgeted for water, roads and sanitation in these areas.”
In terms of health, the Lephalale municipality has joined forces with the department of health to improve and upgrade clinics in Steenbokpan and Marapong.
According to Naidoo there will also be a drive to save electricity. “We will add three new electricity saving traffic lights in town and we plan to use solar lights at cemeteries. Several high-mast solar lights will also be installed in rural areas.
Pre-paid electricity will also soon become a reality in Lephalale. According to Naidoo the service provider is setting up shop in town and 100 units have been successfully tested.
Another pressing issue is the storm-water drainage system. Naidoo says the municipality is committed to improve the system and tenders are going out soon for the necessary upgrades.
“Even though we are working to improve service delivery, we urgently appeal to residents to use electricity and water sparingly. As in the past we intend to work closely with businesses and residents to improve every aspect of living in Lephalale. We need everybody’s help to keep Lephalale clean and to see it grow into a prosperous city.”