12 Oct 2016

Kgalagadi District Council has decided to undertake some maintenance on the Tsabong/McCathy’s Rust road, which connects Botswana and South Africa.

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said the road falls in the inventory of roads under the Kgalagadi District Council.

Ms Tshireletso told Ntlo Ya Dikgosi that in the first quarter of the 2016/17 financial year, the Council undertook some maintenance limited to potholes on the road at a cost of P42 600.

“Currently the road is in the list of the ministry’s Economic Stimulus Programme projects and the ministry will engage the Ministry of Transport and Communications with the view to handing over the road to central government,” she said.

Kgosi Toto II of Kgalagadi South had asked the minister if she would consider taking over maintenance of the Tsabong/McCarthy’s Rust road that connects Botswana and South Africa.

He also wanted government to maintain it together with the Tsabong/Sekoma road and the Transmolopo highway as it was in a bad state of disrepair.

Responding to another question from Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, the assistant minister said all clients who occupy LEA factory shells signed initial two year lease agreements, as a temporary accommodation at subsidised rentals, while the entrepreneur was still looking for permanent accommodation. Ms Tshireletso was responding on behalf of the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Vincent Seretse to a question from KgosiMosadi of Balete.

“These lease agreements are non-renewable, however, on a case basis, a lease can be extended for an agreed period depending on the reasons advanced, which includes, the conduct of the tenant, whilst occupying the factory shell, and availability of alternative accommodation within the region and the waiting list,” she said.

Kgosi Mosadi had asked about the current status regarding the occupation of the factory shells in Lesetlhana ward in Ramotswa that are under Local Enterprise Authority (LEA).

She also wanted to know if any lease agreements were signed and the relative rental payments for the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Kgosi Mosadi also enquired on how LEA assisted young people with lease renewals for accommodation in those shells when they had not found alternative accommodation to continue running their businesses after elapse of the initial lease agreement. ENDS