By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

More than 40 farmers will benefit from a partnership between the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the University of Michigan from the United State of America.

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC, Desbo Mohono said the university is working on a project to integrate renewable energy practices into the operations at Kgora Farmer Training Centre in Mahikeng.

Mohono said she is adamant that the partnership will assist the farming community to solve current electricity challenges.

She said the partnership is in line with the mandate and purpose of Kgora Farmer Training Centre, which is derived from the skills development Act 1998 (Act No. 97 of 1998).

“So, I am glad that we have started the work already with our partners from the University of Michigan. Beside the fact that we will not be polluting the environment with this technology, I am glad that the people whom I serve are farmers and will benefit the most once this project is up and running.

“The project will not only save them money, but will help them to become more competitive in South Africa’s very competitive food market. This partnership will see the University of Michigan through its Sustainability without Borders (SWB) program, which is housed within the School of Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and the College of Engineering, establishing a demonstration and research centre for renewable energy at the centre to empower emerging farmers, particularly black female farmers in the province” she said.

Mohono further said she is optimistic that the project will help solve the current electricity challenges faced by local farming community. She also committed to allocate the needed resources and to provide support to ensure that the project will be successful.

“It is a fact that, like seeds and fertilizers, electricity is a critically important input to successful farming. So, I am glad that we have started the work already with our partners from the university.

“Unemployed agricultural college graduates will also be trained on the technologies to provide energy related extension services and learn how to install, maintain and repair the various technologies that will be deployed on the farm,” said Mohono.

She said identified farmers will learn skills to generate enough green electricity to cover their own use and perhaps sell surplus.  Mohono said those farmers will also be encouraged to develop energy cooperatives, where they can cluster technologies and share the expenses of establishing the renewable energy systems.

“A hybrid gasification-solar PV powered micro grid will be established at the centre for mutual research on the varied uses of renewable energy on farms and it will also be used for demonstration and vocational training.

“Among other things, the university will also develop training curricula, support the building and installation of renewable energy prototypes and ideally work with students and faculty from the North West University (NWU) and other agricultural colleges in the province to deliver the curriculum to our local farmers,” she said.

Farmers who will mostly benefit are those in horticulture, dairy, poultry and livestock, grains, and agro-processing where power is such an important and expensive input cost.

Meanwhile, the University of Michigan alumnus, Michael Sudarkasa who is a long-time resident of South Africa and former project director of the South Africa Solar Energy Technology Road mapping exercise conducted by the Department of Mining and Energy and the Department of Science and Innovation in 2014-2015, will also assist in the local coordination and resource mobilization effort.

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By OBAKENG MAJE 

The community of Manthe village near Taung welcomed the intervention from the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) on a R1 billion Taung Bulk Water Supply project. 

This comes after the community members embarked on a violent protest and brought the project to a grinding halt this week alleging that there are discrepancies taking place .

One of the residents, Lebogang Bokgwathile, alleged that the Phalaborwa Company that has been appointed to install pipelines for abstraction of water from the iconic Taung Dam to the Taung Water Treatment Plant and reservoir in Morokweng village was not eloquently introduced to the community.

“We have written a letter of grievances to the GTLM after so many things were not properly done. The contractor was not introduced appropriately, the job opportunities within the project were not advertised timeously. 

“Also proper processes were not followed when the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) and the Occupational Health and Safety Officer were appointed,” Bokgwatile said.

He further said they also requested an explanation on why the site project was not standalone, but instead being erected in someone’s yard. Bokgwatile added that they are grateful because now the project has been put on hold until all their grievances are addressed. 

“We call on the contractor to follow the law by appointing local Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) as sub-contractors as part of skill development,” he said.

Another resident, Butiki Ntwayagae shared the same sentiments. Ntwayagae said the challenge of creating job opportunities for locals has been a long-standing debate within society in general and the business community in particular.

Ntwayagae said, this has caused tension within the community because there were individuals who wanted self-maximisation and profit growth not to have a commensurate impact on society – but for them alone.

The GTLM mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe said: “We have reached an agreement that the project will be put on hold until we meet with all stakeholders involved. We can also attest that the project was not introduced to us as it comes from the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

“However, we will be meeting all stakeholders on Tuesday to find a lasting solution. The community members alleged that there was no advertisement for employment, but instead mouth-to-mouth advertising was used.”

Gaoraelwe said when the project comes from either national, provincial or regional, it should go through the local municipality, because they have the constituency. He added that there is no proper steering committee for the project either.

“The proper steering committee must have terms of reference and the roadmap for the project. Remember, the steering committee consists of the ward councillor, ward committee member responsible for infrastructure, project manager, CLO and two ordinary members of the community, who are elected during a community meeting.

“There should also be a tribal authority and municipality representatives. Normally, the Human Resource, the PMU from the local municipality and contractor should form part of the panel that will run interviews and appoint suitable candidates for the positions,” he said.  

Gaoraelwe said on the issue of SMMEs, they explained to them that the contractor should outline all job descriptions s/he will need from local expertise.

In the statement, the Water and Sanitation department said the Taung Water Bulk Supply project was expected to be completed by the end of April 2021.

The Water and Sanitation department spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau said in a statement: “The project is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), with approximately R1 billion allocated to the project.

“The project is one of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) major infrastructure projects in the North West, aimed at developing water infrastructure that will meet the needs of the community and ensure water security.

“The construction of an adequate infrastructure such as the Taung Bulk Water Supply that can support and supply efficient safe water to communities in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, therefore is a critical input to sustainable growth and development,” Ratau said.

He said the scheme, which is implemented in phases, has created 304 jobs thus far and 189 139 households in more than 55 villages have been targeted to benefit from this water project.

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