17 Apr 2017

About 3 159 plots in Palapye are ready to be handed over following completion of the land servicing exercise.

The project coordinator Mr Frans Bale said the Extension 11 project, which started in 2013 with a budget of P3.8bn entailed construction of 75km of roads and storm water drainage, 65km of water reticulation, 63km of sewer reticulation, four lift pump stations, 55km of telecommunication civil works as well as an access road and junction into A1 Road.

“The project is almost complete and only a few minor works are being attended to. Very soon we will be handing over the project,” said Mr Bale.

The development also known as the Dibokwe Infrastructure Development project was done by the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services in an area measuring 350 hectares. He commended the contractor Zhengtai

Group for completing the project on time despite challenges they faced.

Mr Bale noted that the project suffered a setback in 2014 and 2017 due to heavy rains that resulted in the contractor halting the project.

He said the ministry was also in the process of servicing plots at Extension 10.

He said the project also benefited community members in terms of employment creation, citing that 300 people were employed at the beginning of the project.

Currently, the total employment stands at 143 of which 132 were citizens, whilst 11 were expatriates. “Citizen sub-contractors also benefited as per the contract requirement, which stipulated that 20 per cent of the work should be subcontracted to 100 per cent citizen subcontractors,” he said.

Area councillor Mr Mphoentle Kabelo appreciated government efforts for undertaking the project to help improve home ownership and access to land.

He also commended government for constructing a road linking Extension 11 to the village as well as an access road joining A1 Road. BOPA