29 Nov 2018

Kweneng District councillors have decried shoddy work done by some contractors on community projects.

They made the criticism when deliberating on the council chairperson’s speech during an ongoing council session in Molepolole on Tuesday.

While they appreciated the Economic Stimulus Programme, (ESP) councillors said most projects undertaken through the programme were moving at a snail pace resulting in cost overruns.

Councillor Thomas Batlhophi of Takatokwane/Dutlwe ward, appreciated projects carried out in his ward, but expressed concern that they were taking long to be completed.

He said he suspected that contractors engaged unskilled manpower and dismissed their reasoning of shortage of water as the contributory factor for the delay.

“ESP projects such as construction and maintenance of classes are taking long to be completed and I blame the construction companies because recently they had been complaining of water shortage, saying they are still negotiating for water provision from village private borehole owners, but they could have initially raised and addressed the issue in the bill of quantity when bidding for the tender,” he said.

Mr Batlhophi further said he felt the council was being taken advantage of, citing issues of retention.

“I do not expect better results as some contractors are performing poorly, but at the same time they are being awarded the main maintenance contracts which could have been given to another contractor to cover the costs. For instance, there has been one classroom that has been demolished and reconstructed up to foundation level because the inspection condemned it,” he said.

Another councillor for Mokgopeetsane ward in Molepolole South constituency, Mr Michael Bagopi urged construction companies to employ locals instead of bringing their own labourers.

He also expressed concern over poor service delivery of those engaged to issue tokens for food basket of orphans and the less privileged. He said in most cases they delayed in delivering as per their contracts resulting in the recipients being tossed back and forth between offices.

He urged the council to monitor and do follow-ups as well as updates with central government on council projects, stating that they needed to work round the clock when servicing the community.  Ends