8 Months of Field Trials and several weeks of organisation culminated in a fabulously successful launch event for Connect Africa in Limpopo’s Mogalakwena Municipality.
Over 100 guests attending the sit-down lunch function were treated to genuinely enthusiastic presentations by the speakers, a delicious lunch, goodies from the Development Bank and Vodacom, and a breathtaking energetic dancing performed by local drum and dance troupe, Magongoa.
Master of Ceremonies was Mogalakwena’s Business and Legal Affairs Manager, Morutse Ntsoane and he introduced the speakers in his own inimitable style:
The Speaker for Mogalakwena Municipality – N.L. Kgobe, introduced the The Hon Mayor B.M. Mmola, Mayor of Mokopane and The Hon Executive Mayor P.S. Kekana, Mayor of the 6 Municipalities in the Waterberg District.
We were also honoured to have the Head of Community Services for Vodacom, Nobuhle Chonco, Regional Manager – Limpopo for the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Pumla Mannya, and Managing Director of Inkululeko, Hilton Theunissen who all also gave rousing and very complimentary speeches.
Our guests consisted of over 100 officials, Induna’s, Tribal Leaders and future mobile unit operators, many of whom commented afterwards on the genuine support that was demonstrated by the speakers.
It was particularly rewarding to hear Pumla Mannya from the Development Bank complimenting the Municipality and Vodacom on an initiative that brings government and the corporate sector into partnership. She then went on to invite the other Municipalities in Limpopo to approach the DBSA for funding for this type of venture in the future.
The Honorable Executive Mayor for the Waterberg District also welcomed the Connect Africa initiative and she used to opportunity to announce that the Waterberg District has been designated the ICT hub for the Limpopo Province. This offers Connect Africa an ideal platform to expand into the district’s 6 municipalities and beyond.
The speeches were followed by a delicious lunch and the opportunity for people to meet old friends and make new ones.
The Connect Africa team came away from the event invigorated, motivated, excited and ready to tackle the next stage – our roll-out into Limpopo Province!
Many thanks especially to the team that made this very successful event happen:
Melanie Malema – Connect Africa’s Programme Manager
Marilyn Pugsley – Connect Africa’s ultra reliable assistant
Kholo & Ronel – Mogalakwena Municipality