Table of Contents:

SPEECH BY PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AT THE SWITCH-ON OF THE SOSHANGUVE
ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT

Soshanguve, 2 December 1997

Master of ceremonies;
Distinguished Guests;
Residents of
Soshanguve.

It is a great honour to join you in celebrating a milestone in our journey
towards a better life for all, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for
inviting me.

When we voted as a nation for democracy in 1994, we gained the opportunity to
address the basic needs which had been denied to the majority in our country.
With our freedom won we faced the even greater challenge of rebuilding our
country and improving our quality of life. Achieving this goal is a long and
difficult task. But we can proudly say we have made a start.

The election of democratic local government was a great step forward. It is
the local councils that must ensure the delivery of services in the areas where
people live. Though central government can provide a framework for this, the
real changes must come at the local level.

But we do also know that the financial and human resources available to local
authorities for improving the delivery of services to residents are very
limited. If South Africans are to have quality services on a sustainable basis
then their councils need to find new ways of providing them.

Today's electricity switch-on is proof that this local council is rising to
that challenge.

By establishing a private company, as provided for by local government
legislation, you have ensured that even more houses are being supplied with
electricity than was originally planned; that this service is being delivered
months ahead of schedule; and that million of Rands are being saved and ploughed
back into even more services for the community. The project is also promoting
the goals of our newly-won democracy by the involvement of the community in
planning and implementation, by the empowerment of small contractors and by the
creation of jobs.

This is indeed an exciting way of providing a high standard of service at an
affordable cost to the community. The work by the council is a shining example
of the power of partnership to create a better life for all. It also represents
what is happening across South Africa as people of every persuasion work
together to improve their lives. Away from the limelight and the headlines,
communities are joining hands with government and the private sector to better
their conditions.

Today we turn on the electrical infrastructure which will soon provide
electricity to 24,000 houses. In doing so, we are adding to delivery of water
and sewerage facilities to thousands of homes in Soshanguve and the building of
low-cost houses as well as the tarring of main roads.

What is happening in Soshanguve is a concrete contribution to our national
effort of reconstruction and development: this has seen 1,000 people gain access
to clean water on average every day since April 1994, it has seen 1,000
electricity connections each day and 1,000 houses completed or brought into
construction every two and a half days.

We can be proud of these achievements. We know they are only the start of a
task that will take many years to complete, before everyone has the amenities
they deserve. We know that success will require much hard work, patience and
discipline.

The Northern Pretoria Metropolitan Council is showing us what is possible.
What is being achieved here would not have been possible without the generous
financial contributions of the Pretoria Metropolitan Council and the National
Electricity Regulator.

And most important of all are you, the people of Soshanguve, who have been
deprived of electricity for so long. You have come a long way by working with
your council to improve your own lives. This is in the spirit of Masakhane,
which is not only about councils delivering the services you need so badly. It
is also about communities sharing responsibility for uplifting themselves;
protecting the amenities that have been created; and meeting the cost of
services provided.

Mr. Mayor; to you and your Council, to Tswaing Electricity; to all the
donors; to the small electrical contractors who were trained on this project and
all the people of Soshanguve, we say: Congratulations!

Electricity plays an important role in any society and through your hard
work, you have made life that much easier for thousands of people.

I am proud to be taking part in the official switch-on of this electricity
project.

In the results of your efforts we can truly see that the foundation for a
better life has been laid.

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