28 Nov 2017

Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) continues to be implemented and has so far realised its intended purpose of addressing backlog of projects as well as creating employment.

Addressing a full council meeting in Kanye on Monday, Southern District Council chairperson, Mr Alec Seametso said the district realised the completion of 14 projects from 2016/17 financial year under the backlog eradication programme.

He said two projects were still outstanding but their contracts had been terminated, sites repossessed and local contractors had been appointed to complete the remaining works.

Mr Seametso said the delay in the completion of some projects had defeated their initial objective and purpose of provision of infrastructure for a conducive learning environment and improved working conditions. He said with regard to provision of housing the less privileged, the district had allocated 78 houses under the capital budget of P6 349 200 under the destitution housing programme in the current financial year.

Councillors were informed that the district funded the construction of six houses through recurrent budget thus bringing the total number of houses to 84.

The chairperson mentioned that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development had set the national completion target of houses to December 31, 2017.

He said they had already completed 65 houses, which translates to 78.3 per cent and they had been handed to beneficiaries. 

‘’As for RADP houses, all 31 allocated houses for 2017/18 financial year in the district had been completed and handed over to beneficiaries,’’ he said.

Mr Seametso noted that their success had been attributed to concerted efforts and full commitment from staff and contractors in ensuring that those projects were completed within schedule and on budget despite the challenges met. BOPA