Middelburg – The Steve Tshwete Local Municipality officially opened the long awaited Rockdale Thusong Service Centre on 26 September 2025, marking a major milestone in service delivery for the community.
Speaking at the opening, Assistant Director for cultural services, Shirley Xulu, expressed her joy at the establishment of the new library.
“This library will make it possible for schoolchildren to do homework, for jobseekers to access WiFi and make photocopies, and for the community at large to gain access to information. Such projects uplift our people and show that [the] government is delivering services. I plead with the community to take care of this facility so that it serves them for many years to come,” said Xulu.
The R55,4-million facility has a public library, community hall, fire station and a municipal paypoint. The project began in 2020 but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus far, the project has created 49 job opportunities and employed 26 local subcontractors.
Executive Director for Community Services, Elizabeth Tshabalala, described the centre as a response to community needs. “This is about bringing services closer to the people. Residents will now be able to host meetings and private functions in the hall, access library services, buy electricity, pay municipal accounts and benefit from quicker emergency responses because of the fire station,” she said.
Tshabalala added that the fire station was particularly significant as previous fire responses had been delayed by the distance from town. “This is now the third fire station in the municipality, after those in town and Hendrina. We are also engaging [the] government to establish a police station here,” she explained.
The centre is also expected to create more employment opportunities. Tshabalala confirmed that three posts would be filled at the library, one cashier at the paypoint, and seven positions at the fire station.
Residents have already welcomed the development. Cynthia Machika, a Grade 12 learner from Phumelela Secondary School, said: “I’ll now be able to use the books and WiFi for school projects and research. This will really help me with my studies.”
Another resident, Vusi Ntuli, said the new paypoint would ease the financial burden of traveling to nearby towns. “It’s now going to be much easier for me to buy electricity and pay for services,” he said.
Municipal officials have urged the community to protect the new facility and not destroy it during protests. “This centre belongs to the people of Rockdale. If it is cared for, it will serve generations to come,” Tshabalala said.
