08 Sep 2016

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen has expressed disappointment over the delayed construction of type  I kgotla offices project.

The project, awarded to Palapye based Sekgoni Enterprises, is undertaken under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) to the tune of P1.1 million. 

It entails construction of kgotla offices, ablution block and a holding cell.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen, who was doing a project visit in that village said in an interview that the government wants all projects particularly those undertaken through the ESP to be completed on time and within budget.

He said it was disappointing that the project was currently behind schedule by five weeks and only 40 per cent complete. The project started in June and was expected to be complete by September 23, this year.

He requested the council to keep monitoring the project closely so that it is completed on time and on budget.

He said it was worrisome that the contractor now engaged a sub-contractor without any contractual agreement.

He said the government was trying to empower citizen companies through ESP and wanted Batswana to play a role and benefit in all sectors of the economy.

However, he said it was disappointing that some citizen owned companies fail to deliver projects on time and on budget. “This shows lack of commitment on the contractor,” he said.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen, who is also MP for Kgalagadi South, said the project was small therefore it should have minimal challenges.

He said the council should have looked around for a local small contractor in Mokgware, adding that the government wanted ESP to benefit local companies as well as the community where those projects were being undertaken. 

He said it was satisfying that there were still sufficient funds to complete the project.

For his part, Palapye Administrative Authority chairperson and also the area councilor, Mr Lesedi Phuthego alleged that the contractor abandoned the project and engaged a sub-contractor to complete the project.

He claimed that the contractor engaged the sub-contractor after losing employees over his failure to pay their salaries and as a result the project was delayed.

He said he was not happy because the community of Mokgware needs to utilise the office.

Even though the council approved the extension of the project, acting senior assistant council secretary Mr Reethabane Mosarwe said the council had proposed to meet with the contractor to iron out issues affecting the project so that the project was delivered as expected.

He said the council also engaged an officer to monitor that project closely and so far P178 000 had been paid to the contractor. ENDS