Solar panels power many of the borehole pumps installed by ZAC

Izithebe zamandla kagesi welanga yizona ezizophakela amapitsi ugesi afakwe yi-ZAC

Brightening community areas with solar powered lighting

Street lighting is something that is often taken for granted, but for many communities it is beyond the means of their municipal authorities. As untarred roads are the norm and access to grid power is very limited, these factors constrain local government’s ability to provide communities with street lighting.

Lighting in the areas surrounding ZAC can be the difference between life and death as cows, donkeys and sheep often cross or sleep on the road. These animals are difficult to see at night or the early morning and their presence on poorly lit roads can result in deadly accidents occurring.

It is for these reasons that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ZAC and the Zululand District Municipality to assist with Local Economic Development projects, it included the installation of High Mast solar powered lights. ZAC has to date installed a number of solar powered lights in Ememulweni, Wela School, Obhokweni, Emhlalini Creche, Nkonjani, Nqulwane, Basumlilo, Sigudu and Dabase.

ZAC Community Development Projects Engineering Superintendent Renier Van Rooyen explains that the lights operate completely on their own power, generated by solar panels which store energy in batteries.

“Each solar light has a built-in day/night sensor, allowing the light to switch on automatically at dusk and to turn off at dawn. The 15W lightemitting diode (LED) solar powered lights illuminate a wide surface area and have improved the quality of community members life substantially,” he states.

One of the solar lights has been installed outside the convenience shop, Mhayise Store, in Mtheni, which is located along one of the main thoroughfares of the community, where people gather to buy goods, conduct business transactions and socialise.

Thando Hlatshwayo, an attendant at the shop, says that the installation of the LED solar lights by ZAC has significantly improved the levels of safety for customers at the shop.

“The solar lights make us feel safe when we come early in the morning while it is still dark and once we finish off in the evenings. They make it safer for all people to cross the road, especially for the elderly and children. We are very thankful to ZAC for improving safety and security in our community,” she states.

Sikhanyisela umphakathi ngogesi welanga

Ukukhanya emgwaqweni yinto evame ukunganakwa kepha kwezinye izindawo omasipala abanawo amandla okukhanyisa. Njengoba yandile imigwaqo engenatiyela nokuxhumeka ezigujini zikagesi kunqabile, zonke lezi zinto zinqinda omasipala bendawo ukuthi bakhanyise imigwaqo.

Ukukhanya ezindaweni ezakhele i-ZAC kuyinto enkulu njengoba izinkomo, izimbongolo nezimvu zivame ukuwela umgwaqo. Kunzima ukubona lezi zilwane ebusuku noma ngovivi kanti ukunqamula kwazo emigwaqweni engakhanyi kungadala izingozi.

Yingakho i-ZAC noMasipala wesiFunda waseZululand besayine isivumelwano sokusebenzisana ukwelekelela imisebenzi yokuthuthukisa umnotho njengokufaka izigxobo zikagesi welanga. Kuze kube manje i-ZAC isifake izigxobo zikagesi welanga eziningi Ememulweni, esikoleni iWela, Obhokweni, Emhlalini Creche, eNkonjani, eNqulwane, eBasumlilo, eSigudu naseDabase.

UNsumpa wobuNjiniyela bokuThuthukisa uMphakathi e-ZAC u-Renier van Rooyen uthi lezi zibani zizikhanyela zona, zisebenzisa amandla ama-battery.

“Isibani ngasinye sine-sensor esikhanyisa uma sekumnyama, okwenza ukuthi sikhanye ntambama bese sicisha ekuseni. La ma-globe e-LED awu-15W akhanyisa indawo ebanzi kanti ayenze yangcono kakhulu impilo yabantu bendawo,” kusho yena.

Esinye sezigxobo zikagesi sifakwe eSitolo kwaMhayise eMtheni, ngasendleleni ehamba umphakathi, ngalapho abantu bethenga khona, bahwebe baphinde bazihlalele.

UThando Hlatshwayo, odayisa esitolo, uthi ukufakwa kwezigxobo yiZAC sekuphucule isimo sokuphepha emakhasimendeni esitolo.

“Izibani zikagesi zenza ukuthi sizizwe siphephile uma sifika esitolo ekuseni kakhulu, kusemnyama noma uma sesiqeda ebusuku. Zenza kuphephe kuwona wonke umuntu ukuwela umgwaqo, ikakhulu kubantu abadala nezingane. Sibonga kakhulu kwi-ZAC ngokuphucula isimo sokuphepha emaphakathini wakithi,” kusho yena.