Gathering spot for Vhulaudzi village

LOUIS TRICHARDT – SAFCOL Komatiland Forests handed over a R3-million worth luxury hall to the community of Vhulaudzi near Louis Trichardt on Saturday.

The South African Forests Company (Safcol) CEO, Nomkhita Mona said they received a request for the construction of the community hall three years ago through the joint community forum of Ha-Radzilani – Phadzima.

She said Safcol conducted a feasibility study to test if the need was critical and the degree of the impact it will have in the community. “The results of our study reveal that indeed there was a dire need for the hall as the community didn’t have a decent or conducive venue to hold meetings and events.

“We also take into consideration that there is a need for government departments like home affairs, health and Sassa to render basic services to the community in the hall,” she said. “Construction began in March 2013 by a local contractor and created 19 jobs for the local people.

“We also constructed an external ablution block, drilled and equipped a borehole, installed electricity and furnished the hall with 500 chairs. It can accommodate approximately 1 000 people,” she said.

“Through our social responsibility programmes, we have sponsored a tractor and farming equipment to the people of Maelula.

“We have trained 20 young people to manufacture desks at our Timbadola Sawmill and to date 1000 desks are manufact ured at the centre. Hydroponic tunnels and a borehole were handed to the community of Mapila. The borehole we drilled for the Maguada community serves about 200 households.

“A nursery, hydroponic tunnels, borehole and seedlings were also provided to the Tshakhuma community. Safcol provided bee hives to the Songozwi Bee Keeping Project, a pick-up truck and training,” said Mona. Opening the hall, the deputy minister of public enterprises, Bulelani Magwanishe said there was still a need to better the lives of people living in the rural areas. He told the community to protect and maintain the hall.

“You should preserve water and don’t allow children to leave water taps running,” said Magwanishe. One of the elders, Muofhe Mulaudzi thanked Safcol for coming to their rescue as they used to gather in an open air to receive their Sassa grants.