15 Mar 2017

Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology intends to engage specialists in the next financial year, to exterminate termites in Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology buildings and to remove the anthills in the College compound.

Responding to a question in Parliament , posed by the Member of Parliament for Mochudi West, Mr Gilbert Mangole, the Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Madigele said this would done through the assistance of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development.

Dr Madigele explained that some buildings at Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology are infested with termites.

“The buildings were infested with termites in 2011, two years after the buildings were handed to the ministry.

The then Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology asked the contractor to replace all the skirting in the affected areas at his own costs as the buildings were in the defects liability period,” he said.

Parliament heard that in 2014, the termites surfaced again.

In addition, Dr Madigele explained that during the construction of the college in 2005, excavated areas particularly foundations were treated with ant poison as per the specification.

He said ‘Oodi college site is generally infested with termites, judging from number of anthills covering various areas in the 25 hectare plot, and the current termite infestation can be attributed to the termite colonies found in the anthills, rather than poor workmanship of the contractor.’

MP Mangole had asked Dr Madigele if he is aware that some buildings at Oodi College are infested with termites.

He also wanted him to state the cause and whether the situation can be attributed to poor workmanship by the contractor that built the college and when and how he intends to address the situation. ENDS