16 Oct 2014

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofho Molefhi has applauded Welcome Cash’n’Carry in Selebi Phikwe for removing bushes along the 58 km Selebi Phikwe-Serule road.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the completion of the debushing project, which started in June 2013 and ended this year in August, Minister Molefhi said the retailer had played a significant role in ensuring that the country’s roads were safe.

He said government could have used tens of thousands of Pula to engage a private company to do the job, but the Cash’n’Carry, which is part of the World Group of Companies, came in handy to assist the government in that respect.

He said the now clear road was good for motorists to be able to see stray animals from a distance and hence avoid possible accidents.

“The number of road accidents along the A15 road (Selebi Phikwe-Serule road) caused by wild animals and livestock will be reduced,” Mr Molefhi said, adding that the initiative was in line with the government’s mandate of providing safe and secure roads.

He said the move would also contribute towards the country’s mandate of realising the United Nations objective of safe and secure roads by 2020. 

He also called on other companies to emulate what Welcome Cash’n’Carry has done, adding that currently the government spent over P50 million annually maintaining, debushing, and atching potholes. Such amount was also used for the construction of cattle grids and patrolling animals, among other things along the A1 road alone, said the minister, adding that it was not enough because other roads also need to be monitored and maintained in the same way.

He also noted that government was in the process of developing road infrastructure around the country though resources are limited. He said the Martins Drift-Sefhophe and the Selibe Phikwe-Sefhophe roads projects would soon start. 

Mr Molefhi went on to urge road users to abide by road rules and regulations to avoid accidents, and called on livestock owners to advise their herdsmen to keep livestock away from the roads to avoid causing accidents otherwise they will suffer the consequences.

Managing Director of Welcome Cash’n’Carry in Selibe Phikwe Mr Najumudeen Safiullah said they found it fit to clear the road as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility mandate. 

He said his company wanted to contribute towards road safety within the Selebi Phikwe region, adding that Selebi Phikwe’s economic growth and prosperity was dependent on its access and sound infrastructure; as such, there was no question that the A15 road plays an important role in that regard, he added.

He said the Selebi Phikwe-Serule road formed part of the North-South Corridor (NSC), a route that was identified by SADC as a strategic route that will enhance regional economic integration. He said the route was a strategic route for trade and tourism.  “The overall objective of the project was to contribute towards safe and secure roads in our country,” he said.

The Executive Director of World Group of Companies, Mr Samuel Mpuchane applauded Welcome Cash’n’Carry for the job they had done.

He explained that the World Group, of which Welcome Cash and Carry falls under, had companies which have been directed to have Corporate Social Responsibility policies to give back or empower communities within which they operate.

He said Cash’n’Carry had fulfilled the initiative and called on other companies to follow suite. He thanked the Ministry of Transport and Communications and other authorities for making the debushing project a success.

Other dignitaries at the occassion to mark the completion of the project included the Mayor of Selebi Phikwe Mr Tebogo Matlhogonolo, Kagiso Customary Court President Mr Mark Thipe and other senior government officials from Selibe Phikwe and Bobirwa Sub District. ENDS