Recently Emalahleni Local Municipality and Gwede Mantashe Foundation launched the Rural Development Support Programme. This is a programme to support rural communities on various developmental programmes. The initiative was supported by companies like Anglo Gold Ashanti.
Nomveliso Nyukwana, Mayor Emalahleni Local Municipality said when welcoming hordes in Dordrecht Thusong Centre to witness the handover of the Fire Engine, Solar Lights and Solar Geysers.
Emalahleni is an area with arable land for Agriculture, state own a big portion of the land. There are natural water sources available for irrigation. As a result of that the Department of Agriculture in the Eastern Cape funded Ibuyambo with R46 million for the current financial year”, said Mayor.
We are opening the doors to the Foundation to work with us as we are already at work. Today we are launching a programme for Rural Development. We are welcoming our guests today as sponsors but in the near future we want to ensure that they come as partners”, said Nyukwana
Mr Caswell Mokoena Chief Operations Officer for Gwede Mantashe Foundation said the foundation is focussing on four pillars, Agriculture, Sport Arts and Culture, Education and Economic Development. “The Foundation is aiming to support the municipality on the Integrated Development Plan programme. Support the National Development plan. Skills acquisition by the local people and livelihood improvement”.
We are aiming to assemble a plant for solar geysers and solar lights manufacturing in this area. We are building an institutional relationship with Emalahleni as we are launching a programme to address rural development”, said Caswell.
Mokoena said ten families today will receive solar geysers as the start of the rollout.
Mr Gwede Mantashe the Patron of the foundation said this time of the year we started to mourn the passing of Dr Nelson Mandela. He further said we will continue celebrating his life.
“We are building the future today as Gwede Mantashe Foundation. We must not embark on short term plans but plan for the future”, said Mantashe.
“The fire engine contributed today is not enough to cover this area. We will come back with another fire engine. We need tractors to the business people that are here to ensure that we are saving in the economy”, he said.
“Agriculture is an economic transformation sector which need to be preserve from fires which destroy the value of it, cold weather conditions are not good for farming, predators are killing our stock and draught is another problem”, said Mantashe
Mr Mantashe said people are lazy to the extent that they want to depend on government and when there a project in place they do not want to work they ignore it claiming that it is not paying as they are looking for stipends
“Agriculture is an economic transformation sector which need to be preserve from fires which destroy the value of it, cold weather conditions are not good for farming, predators are killing our stock and draught is another problem”, said Mantashe .
“Private companies always hear that there is a misuse of funds hence as the foundation we do not want money but we want items and the equipment from the sponsors. People must stop complaining but stand up and work”, said CEO.
“As the foundation we support our government on service delivery. We focus in rural communities as they were left behind and not taken care of for sometimes in the old administration, said Mrs Mantashe
