25 Jul 2018

The continued delay of the expansion of the Mphuthe Junior School in Letlhakeng has caused discomfort to the political leadership of the area.

In his opening speech during the Letlhakeng- Sub council meeting on July 23, the Sub-district chairperson, Mr Tlotlo Batlhophi said that delays on power connections and water distribution to the new hostels had heavily affected students’ accommodation.

He however, indicated that the Department of Education had made a provisional arrangement with the council that learners from nearby villages of Ditshegwane, Sesung, Metsibotlhoko and Serinane who were supposed to be accommodated at the new hostels should in the meantime be accommodated at the Old Mphuthe starting term three.

Mr Batlhophi said that currently consultations were ongoing to work on those logistics, and that at the moment only one classroom had been handed to the school while the rest of the facilities, including the hostels had not yet been handed although the contractor had promised to hand them in April this year.

He also informed the meeting that this financial year, the Department of Education would undertake maintenance of 10 schools across the district, and that tenders for the first four schools were expected to be gazzetted before end of this month (July) with the remaining six planned to be gazzetted by end of August.

The deputy council chairperson, Mr Lefoko Kegopotswe also reiterated concern over the delay in the completion of the Mphuthe hostels project, saying that such a delay endangered the lives of students as they were often forced to hitch-hike to school.

He said the hostels were meant to address the challenges of students from neighbouring villages committing daily to and from school.

Meanwhile Mr Batlhophi also made a reminder that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) would embark on a voter registration exercise from September 3 to November 11 this year. 

He said there will be 50 polling stations in Letlhakeng-Lephephe constituency while Takatokwane constituency would have 43.

He said registration clerks and supervisors would be recruited for the registration exercise and that applications for both had already been received for the two constituencies. ENDS