Bergville, a small rural town located in KwaZulu-Natal, has been facing various sustainability challenges, such as low agricultural productivity, high unemployment, limited access to health care and education, and poor infrastructure. However, the implementation of technology-based interventions has the potential to transform the town’s social and economic conditions and promote sustainable rural development.
The use of solar energy for rural electrification, telemedicine clinics, e-learning platforms, and renewable energy hubs are some of the technological solutions that have been successfully implemented in Bergville.
The solar-powered non-grid electrification programme has improved residents’ living standards and created employment opportunities.
Additionally, the establishment of the telemedicine, which is clinical care at a distance, has enhanced access to health care, particularly for those in remote areas with limited access to health-care facilities.
The e-learning platform…