17 Aug 2015

Kgosi Letsogo Kgaswa of Nata has decried the lack of feedback from the Tutume Sub-district council.

He raised the concern during a kgotla meeting addressed by the Central District Council (CDC) chairperson, Mr Peter Williams in Nata recently.

Kgosi Kgaswa highlighted that at one of the consultative meetings they had with officials from the sub-district council in February this year, they were promised that the maintenance of Nata Primary School and construction of 17 teachers’ quarters would commence by the beginning of this month.

“Ever since that time no correspondence has come from the officials, and this has us wondering if the project will start since it is already mid-month of the said month for the commencing of the project,” he said.

He further said they had anticipated that the contractor would be on site and consulted them regarding employment opportunities.

Kgosi Kgaswa added that they often encounter challenges with the sub district council. He said despite the fact that the project was undertaken in their locality, the employment of even unskilled labourers was done at Tutume.

He added that they have many youth who were roaming the streets without employment.

He said giving them feedback would make them at ease and to share with the community on the progress of their projects.

Furthermore, he complained that projects in their area take long to be completed, citing the service centre which started in 2011, but has still not been completed.

Such delays, he said, lead them to question whether there was proper supervision from the sub-council.

Sharing similar sentiments, the Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Molatedi Gabantshenke said projects were taking long to be completed and that at times it would be as a result of the shortage of small items which should not delay projects.

Mr Gabantshenke said it was such delays that have seen them call for the establishment of their own sub-district because they would be able to communicate with supervisors at ease rather than having to travel to Tutume.

The assistant council secretary, Ms Kene Mololwane explained that the maintenance of the school and construction of teachers houses was to start this month, and that every process would be shared with the leadership.

Regarding the employment of unskilled labour, Ms Mololwane said they were doing their level best to have unskilled labourers employed at the sites of projects. She added that it was a policy issues that they emphasise when they engage a contractor from outside.

For his part, the CDC chairperson, Mr Williams informed residents that upon the availability of funds to run their sub-district, everything would start to take shape and that all procedures done at the sub-district would begin.

He said in the meantime, Tutume officials should make sure the people of Nata/Gweta constituency were served well despite limited resources. ENDS