23 Nov 2017

Selebi Phikwe deputy mayor, Ms Dorcus Letlhogela says collaboration between Selebi Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) and SPEDU in striving to revitalise the ailing economy of Selebi Phikwe is yielding results.

Delivering state of the town address during the official opening of SPTC full council meeting on November 21, Ms Letlhogela announced that SPEDU was currently involved in 14 projects in the town and surrounding areas.

She said out of the 14 projects, nine citizen-owned companies have been engaged where two were pioneering Information Technology projects, while seven companies were engaged in manufacturing projects.

She said three government projects and two foreign owned companies had ventured into the agriculture sector.

She said in total, companies were expected to invest P227.5 million of which P17.5 million would be financed through CEDA and other funding agencies, while the rest was own investment.

The deputy mayor said three out of the 14 projects undertaken had been offered BDC factory shells in Selebi Phikwe.

Ms Letlhogela stated that the targeted employment creation from the projects  was anticipated to stand at 1 560 jobs in 12 months, 2 480 jobs in the next 24 months and 5 800 jobs in the next 36 months.

She said to date, 569 jobs had been created against the targeted 1 170.

The councillor further indicated that SPEDU was committed to promoting sustainable, diversified trade and investment in the region in partnership with SPTC and key stakeholders in an endeavor to make the region a destination of choice for investors.

Ms Letlhogela further mentioned that on the other hand, the local council was also working tirelessly to have all projects and government initiatives up and running.

She said tenders for LG1109 closed on November 17 and the award of the tenders was planned to be done before the festive season.

She said SPTC had anticipated that all the projects would commence before the end of 2017/2018 financial year.

She mentioned that Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) continued to create temporary employment, while capacitating business people living in the town.

She said Phase One  of the ESP has been completed and currently council had started the ESP Phase Two programme, noting that all the projects had been started and were progressing well.

She said preparations were ongoing for the ESP Phase Three programme which was expected to commence in April 2018.

She said the SPTC through the LAPAD Act Preferential Scheme sought to ensure that at least 70 per cent of the tender value was spent locally.

On other issues, Ms Lotlhegela expressed concern that at the end of the 2016/2017 financial year, services levy and rates arrears owed to the council stood at P16.9 million.   

She explained that out of the total amount, P4.6 million  were arrears for service levy, while P12.3 million  was for rates arrears.

She noted that these arrears were accumulated over the years due to irregular payments by plot owners. ENDS