20 Feb 2018

The expansion of Mphuthe JSS project is still lagging behind almost a year after its scheduled completion date, which was March last year.

It is still languishing at 87 per cent completion.

Officially opening the Letlhakeng Sub-council forum on Monday, chairperson, Cllr Tlotlo Batlhophi said such an anomaly had resulted in some students from the nearby Serinane village being admitted at other schools while the remainder is transported daily by bus from that village to school.

“The company has promised to hand the buildings, including boarding facilities by end of April this year.

The sub regional office had requested the construction company to at least hand some of the completed buildings such as classrooms and laboratories to alleviate the problem of teaching space,” he said.

Considering the Ministry of Health and Wellness projects, Cllr Batlhophi indicated that the upgrading of Letlhakeng clinic laboratory had been cancelled after the ministry team and the engineer noted poor workmanship by the contractor.

He said the contractor was then instructed to stop, and that the processes to engage a new contractor for the project is ongoing.

On the other hand, Cllr Batlhophi said that the Letlhakeng Poly Clinic project was at design stage and was expected to be completed by end of August, while the upgrading of Ditshegwane health post to a clinic had been cancelled.

Cllr Batlhophi also informed the councillors that a dental clinic was being set up at Serinane and that procurement of necessary materials is currently ongoing at ministerial level.

He also said that the department continued to face shortage of both residential and office accommodation, which hindered adequate service delivery, especially to mobile stops.

He said some other challenges includeed frequent breakdown of vehicles due to terrible road condition and lack of technical staff, especially for facility maintenance.

Cllr Batlhophi however, indicated that the complement of doctors in the area had improved as there were currently two doctors at Takatokwane Clinic and five at Letlhakeng.

On issues that concern wildlife, Cllr Batlhophi said that the district was still experiencing the influx of elephants into human territory, causing damage to property and threatening human life.

He said several portions of the Khutse Game Reserve fence had been felled by elephants, which problem gave wildlife free movement into the adjacent cattle posts.

“The department has put remedial measures such as provision of water for wildlife in the game reserve even though the water might be inadequate due to the high number of elephants,” he said.

He however, said the Department of Wildlife and National Parks had promised to continue conducting patrols and make assessments on damages caused. Ends