23 May 2016

The Southern District Council chairperson, Mr Mephato Reatile, has called on contractors to deliver projects on time to avoid unnecessary costs and inconvenience.

He said this when officially launching the first batch of the district’s Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) projects in Betesankwe on Saturday. The first batch included projects that were deferred during the National Development Plan Ten (NDP 10).

Mr Reatile urged contractors to work hard and avoid delays so that the projects could serve their intended purpose.

“I call upon contractors and projects managers to pull up their socks and work together to ensure that these projects are completed on time without any cost overruns,” he said. He also urged local leaders such as councillors to be the public’s eye by making follow-ups and monitoring the projects to avoid inconveniences.

He said apart from addressing issues such as teachers accommodation, classroom shortage and kgotla offices once completed, the projects will give experience to small businesses after which they will be able to compete for bigger projects.

The Southern District Council secretary Mr Mompati Seleka said since the ESP is a three year programme; they have decided to divide the projects over this period, starting with backlog eradication this year. 

He said the first batch include construction of classroom blocks at Khonkhwa and Lefoko, semi-detached teachers houses at Betesankwe and Lefoko, students toilets at Betesankwe and Lefoko as well as customary court facilities at Sese, Sesung, Lejwana, Phihetswane and Sekhutlane. He noted that there was also minimal land servicing at Metlojane and Madingwana, which will provide access to 860 and 616 plots respectively.

He said 12 of these projects had been awarded at a cost over P17 million while four were at awarding stage. He also noted that a total of 29 companies will benefit from these projects, which include construction and electrical services.

Mr Seleka urged local structures such as the Village Development Committees (VDCs), Village Extension Teams (VETs) as well as members of the public to work together to ensure that these projects go according to plan. ENDS