24 Sep 2014

Kgalagadi District Council has managed to undertake and pursue numerous projects during the last five years despite recession obstacles. 

The chairperson of Kgalagadi District Council, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuisen said even though their term commenced at the beginning of the global economic meltdown, which was a heavy blow to most infrastructure projects, they nonetheless undertook numerous projects.

Mr Westhuisen said this when addressing the last session of the full council on Monday, September 22 in Tsabong.

He applauded the councillors for the resilience and team spirit they have shown during their five-year term to serve the interests of their constituents even though they are from different political parties.

Undertaken projects, he said, included the Hukuntsi Infrastructure Development Plan phase 1, construction of 50 destitute houses, Khawa facelift, procurement of livestock for Rural Area Development beneficiaries and the establishment of Tsabong Sub-district.

He said the issue of shortage of classrooms was addressed through Ipelegeng programme in settlement schools such as Maitshoko and Kokotsha, adding that in Hereford one block of two classrooms is still under construction.

The chairperson also said primary school teachers are provided with accommodation on non-sharing basis.

He told the meeting that during the past five years, even though they benefitted from a limited funding cycle under the home improvement and turnkey scheme, the council was able to complete 55 houses across the district.

Currently there are 38 houses which are under construction under turnkey while 16 houses are yet to be completed under the home improvement scheme.

He however said despite their successes there were still challenges hampering smooth progress such as poor workmanship by some contractors and high default rate despite the zero interest charged by government on the loans. 

Commenting, Councillor Elizabeth Ntwaetsile of Omaweneno and Kisa lamented that although they managed to undertake most projects, they had not managed to reduce poverty as numbers of people seeking to be included in the social safety net kept on increasing.

She said youth need mentoring on business matters for their projects to be successful otherwise it would be a waste of money.

Councillor for Boshhoek, Mr Bakaseno Motsamai concurred with Councillor Ntwaetsile that social safety nets beneficiaries keep on increasing and as such there was need to re-look at other poverty eradication programmes because they had proven not to be suitable. ENDS