Mapela MPCC bridges digital divide
Richard Mantu
21 November 2003
The once technologically challenged village of Mapela in Limpopo has become a beacon of hope among neighbouring villages after a multi-purpose community centre (MPCC) was opened in the village this week.
The R1.3-million MPCC centre will help complement the government's delivery of services to about 30 000 villagers of the Waterberg District Municipality.
The centre, the sixth to be launched in the province and the 45th in the country, boasts a telecentre, a clinic, and local offices of the departments of home affairs, social development, labour, health, agriculture and land affairs, correctional services and government communications.
MPCCs are the government's one-stop centres where local, provincial, national and community-based organisations bring services in an integrated way nearer to the communities.
Premier Ngoako Ramathlodi, speaking at the launch of the centre, said the MPCC "provides a two-way communication channel -
people receive information from government, but it also empowers them to talk back to government about their needs and aspirations".
The hi-tech telecentre at the MPCC has a satellite-connected network that will prove useful when conducting computer skills training courses for members of the community.
The computers were funded by the Universal Service Agency, a statutory body of the department of communications, which provides affordable ICT services to disadvantaged communities.
Source: BuaNews
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