25 Jul 2018

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse has advised the Serowe Administrative Authority to consider local artisans when engaging companies for projects under the constituency fund.

Mr Autlwetse said this during a consultative meeting with residents of Dithojwane ward in his constituency.

“Priority should be given to contractors residing in the wards where the funds are to be utilised. We have to avoid a situation where we source companies from outside the area,” he said.

Mr Autlwetse was responding to the Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Tebogo Kebonang, who was complaining about lack of consultation in constituency projects.

Mr Kebonang said constituency projects within their area were given outsiders, to the detriment of the locals.

He noted that the constituency fund was to create a window of opportunity for the promotion of social development at the constituency level, therefore the need for those within constituencies or wards to benefit from them.

Mr Kebonang also decried unsatisfactory working relations with the Serowe Administrative Authority mostly with regard to the constituency projects.

In his response, the Serowe East legislator indicated that the initiative was made in such a way that the locals could benefit from such projects as labour was to be sourced within the locality.

Mr Autlwetse assured the residents that the chances of misuse of funds were slim, as there were modes in place to avoid irregularities in awarding contracts.

He noted that all the logistics were done in a transparent manner by competent staff at Serowe Administrative Council.

“There is no way that officers who own companies can be given a contract while on the procurement panel. Officers are required to declare their interest in cases where their interest may come into conflict with their duties,” he noted.

He, however, commended the constituency fund initiative, adding that, through it, more developments would be done.

He said as the fund was focused on the specific development need of the local community, the idea was to develop internal roads for accessibility.

“We do not have internal roads in our villages and this is one aspect which discourages investors from setting up in Serowe. We need to work fully in improving our roads so that investors can be interested to settle in our village,” he said.

Mr Autlwetse indicated that for the 2018/19 budget a total of P1 470 000 had been allocated for Dithojwane ward, adding that, the focus would be more on the internal roads. ENDS