Tzaneen’s diverse community has banded together, petitioning South Africa’s national legislature to help with the region’s power problems. The community fears that a total collapse of the Greater Tzaneen municipality’s power system is inevitable. That is why the people of Tzaneen, South Africa’s second-largest grower of citrus for export, have sent an urgent message to Parliament, appealing for intervention in the region’s debilitating electricity crisis. The petition to the national legislature was signed by farmers, business people and ordinary residents.
Tzaneen is known for its agricultural produce. The sector drives most of the area’s economic activity, is a major employer and brings in much-needed revenue to the town. It is responsible for a large share of South Africa’s avocado, mango, tomato and citrus produce. The sector as a whole generated R317-billion in sales. Animal and animal products accounted for most of the sales, while horticultural crops and products came a close second. The Western Cape and Limpopo are the leading regions for horticulture.
However, a failing electricity infrastructure threatens the lifeblood of Tzaneen. Worried residents and organized agriculture, including Agri Letaba, took the initiative to petition Parliament after observing a progressive worsening in the Greater Tzaneen municipality’s supply of power. They are concerned about a total system collapse, which is not improbable considering the extent of the challenges witnessed.
Source: dailymaverick.co.za
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