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Address delivered on behalf of the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi by MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua, upon receiving a portion of the second consignment of diesel generator sets donated by People’s Republic of China, and allocated to North West by Minister of Energy and Electricity, Dr Kgosietsho Ramokgopa in Howick, Kwa-Zulu Natal...

Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024
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Programme Director:
Minister of Energy and Electricity: Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa
Chinese Ambassador to South Africa: ChinChen Xiaodong
Premier of Kwa-Zulu Natal province: Thami Ntuli
All Protocol Observed
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Morning
Zaoshang hao (pronounce Zao shang hao)

I am standing here on behalf of the Premier of the North West Province; Lazarus Mokgosi, his Cabinet, and all the people of our province.
I wish to express our profound appreciation, and gratitude firstly to you, Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
We are indeed humbled, that you saw it proper, consider the North West Province as one of the beneficiaries to reap the fruits of this massive intervention from China.

This moment marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to enhance the energy infrastructure of North West. The challenges we face in ensuring a reliable and consistent power supply are well-known, and the support we receive from our international partners plays a crucial role in overcoming these obstacles.

This is indeed, a rewarding partnership with the People’s Republic of China, which we as a province, will forever cherish and support beyond this occasion.

We are indeed pleased, Minister Ramokgopa, that you kept your word, and delivered on the commitment you made in very jovial mood then. The commitment that you want to see a portion of this second consignment from our friends in the People Republic of China, finds its way too, to the North West Province.

We are accepting this generous offer and support with open hands.

I feel privileged that my province will be counted among the 500 or so, public facilities across the country to have benefitted from this donation. A donation from China, to ensure uninterrupted alternative emergency power supply, and shield our government facilities from the effects of load shedding.

The diesel generator sets we are receiving today are not just pieces of equipment; they represent a beacon of hope and progress for our communities .It is indeed massive boost for the North West province, to mitigate and alleviate the inconvenience of power outages, and interruptions to some of our public facilities.

Especially critical public facilities at coal face of service delivery in our province which is largely rural, where most of our people live. This donation underscores the strong and enduring relationship between South Africa and China, and it highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges.

Programme Director:
We are informed, the technical specifications and the power outputs of some the equipment we are about to take home, can support a clinic and a medium sized hospital.

That is enormous, and we are grateful for that.

The South African government has already moved to exclude some 76 hospitals from load shedding with work underway to shield at least 46 others from rolling power cuts being implemented in the country.

So this is true relief to the people of the North West.

As a messenger, I will make sure that the Premier receives  this precious gift and believe that once we have completed all the necessary logistics and arrangement to get these diesel generators connected at appropriate sites and functioning; an invitation will be extended to you Minister, to come over to the province on an oversight visit mission,

In Conclusion:

Once again, on behalf of the Premier of my province and all its people, I would like to thank your Minister Ramokgopa for not leaving North West behind, and our special thanks and gratitude to the People’s Republic of China and its mission in South Africa for your support.
As we move forward, let us continue to build on this momentum, striving to enhance our infrastructure, empower our communities, and drive sustainable development. Together, we can light the way to a brighter, more prosperous future for North West and beyond.


Thank You
Xièxiè!!! (Pronounce - siesie)


 Ends

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Issued by the Department of Public Works and Roads 
Enquries:
Mr Aubrey Motsurupe
Acting Director: Communication 
Department of Public Works and Roads
Cell: 072 756 5211
Email: amotsurupe@nwpg.gov.za
or
Ms Dirontsho Sebego
Media Liaison Officer
Department of Public Works and Roads
083 320 8627
dmsebego@gmail.com