07 Jun 2018

Four areas in the Mogoditshane/Thamaga sub district have benefitted from the land serving programme under the Ministry of Land Management Water and Sanitation Services (MLWS), Kweneng District full council has heard.

Addressing the full council meeting on June 5, deputy director project management office from MLWS Mr Gabalemogwe Moanakwena said the four areas namely Metsimotlhabe Block 4, Mmopane Block 1, Tsolamosese Block 7 and Mogoditshane Block 9 will have full servicing programme financed through the fiscal budget.

He informed the House that the project involved design and construction of all infrastructure on virgin land which included roads and associated drainage networks, water, power, sewerage and telecommunications reticulation and street lighting.

Commenting on progress of the project, Mr Moanakwena told councillors that the Mogoditshane Block 9 project including Khudiring road would be implemented during NDP 11. 

So far only little work has been done with designs having been completed during the 2014/15 financial year.

On the other hand, he stated that Metsimotlhabe Block 4 project was on-going and would be implemented in three packages.  

He indicated package one was at tender award stage and was expected to commence effectively during the first quarter of this financial year while the other two packages made significant progress in the tendering process.

For Mmopane Block 1 project, consultants had been shortlisted and Invitation To Tender (ITT) documents being vetted. 

He however noted that although Tsolamosese Block 7 project was on-going, there have been delays owing to Environmental Impact Assessment.

On other land servicing issues, Mr Moanakwena revealed that Lentsweletau and Kopong villages had also benefitted in the land servicing programme.  

The two villages will have a share in the cake. Minimal servicing will be done to allocated plots and it will involve design and construction of minimal infrastructure services.

In Kopong, nearly 3 578 plots have been provided with access roads and water lines of about 3km.

At Lentsweletau, 2 486 plots will also have the same amenities.

Responding to the ministry’s presentation, councillor for Gaphatshwa, Mr Moemedi Mokgachane urged the ministry to consider consulting the public on issues of land servicing especially in affected areas.  

He demanded for transparency and clarity on issues of costs on associated works as well as timeframe on the projects.

He said when proper information was not communicated councillors ended up having to face the public who always demand answers from them.

Cllr Simon Maroane of Mahetlwe,  said the reason why land servicing moved at a snail pace was due to tendering processes which normally taook long.  

He suggested the ministry could perhaps look into partnering with Ipelegeng programme for projects that did not require technical expertise such as construction of water lines. 

He also suggested that through such a partnership, council could lend them graders to make access roads to the new plots.  These, he said, could dramatically reduce costs. ENDS