02 Aug 2018

Disagreement over a community project recently pited a civic leader against council officials.

This transpired during the just ended Molepolole Administrative Authority Sub- council meeting when councillors were making comments in regard to community projects that would be done through the constituency fund.

Molepolole Administrative Authority’s (MAA) senior assistant Council secretary Mr Gofaone Kgabanyane had stated that the council was working towards erecting a fence at Neal football ground as agreed by concerned parties.

However Loologa ward councillor Mr Mokami Mantimane did not agree with Mr Kgabanyane’s explanation, stating that the project also entailed compacting of the sporting ground.

Cllr Mantimane thus complained of sabotage by MAA council officials accusing them especially Mr Kgabaanyane for not acceding to his request.

This was despite the technical advice provided by the council’s roads principal engineer Mr Phepafatso Seobakeng that it would be difficult to divert to a completely different project as funds had already been disbursed.

“Consideration of a different project will require proper planning for the project of such a magnitude that will as well call for construction of the drainage system to divert water from the area,” advised Mr Seobakeng.

Mr Kgabanyane explained that he was not in any way against Mr Mantimane’s proposed projects but that the initial P150 000 was not sufficient to undertake the scope of project outlined by the area cllr.

He said there had never been any plan to compact Neal Primary School football pitch, as the only agreed project was fencing of the area.

Mr Kgabanyane explained that his office was not influenced by outside forces to sabotage the area councillor against compacting the ground.

“There is no how compacting of the ground can be part of the P150 000 project. We could be talking huge funding since the area councillor is calling for a major projects that would as well require designing before the actual construction,” said Mr Kgabanyane.

Nominated Cllr, Mr Motlhophi Leo, dismissed Councillor Mantimane accusations against council officials as misleading and unfounded and echoed Mr Kgabanyane’s sentiment to the effect that the allocated P150 000 was mainly for fencing of the ground but not the other way round.

Contrary to the argument raised by Mr Mantimane, Mr Leo insisted that the leadership in the area held the same view with council officials. The decision he said was reached during a forum that the area cllr was part of.

Meanwhile Mr Kgabanyane had expressed optimism over the council’s intention to work round the clock towards expediting paving internal roads.

 “I am grateful that we had two appeals in the current financial year that had since been dealt with by the Appeals’ Board,” he added.

About issues raised by Borakalalo ward Cllr Arafat Khan about some individual currently occupying plots after being compensated to pave way for roads construction in Molepolole, Mr Kgabanyane promised action against such as the space was now owned by the council.

He challenged village leadership to advice accordingly for the affected individuals to vacate the said plots to avoid unnecessary conflicts. ENDS