15 Jan 2019

Sikwane Village Development Committee (VDC) is happy with the progress made in view of their three-year strategic plan, which came into effect July last year.

In an interview, the chairperson of the committee, Ms Kgomotso Radibe said the committee was appointed in April last year and their plan was derived from Vision 2036  pillar number 2, which talks about human and social development.

“For the 2018-2019 financial year from July we had planned several activities aimed at changing the landscape of the village and we have so far managed to successfully undertake six of the nine activities planned,” she said.

The activities, she said included a clean-up campaign in July and installing two environmental signboards around the village to sensitise the community about environmental issues.

We also did maintenance of toilets at the kgotla and installed burglar gates as people were vandalising them.

With a budget of P500, the committee has also conducted wellness and cultural day as they believe the community should be fit mentally and physically.

Ms Radibe also highlighted that they have extended a wall surrounding the  kgotla shelter and managed to lay floor tiles.

In addition, she said they would be delighted to have a trust, which would look into all the natural resources they had.

“We are yet to install a gate at the village cemetery and maintain the fence as well as two VDC houses and toilets,” she said.

On the other hand, the secretary of the committee Ms Triphynah Motshepa added that before their term elapses in 2021 they are determined to make a significant change in the village.

She said as the VDC they plan to have a big culture day budgeted at P15 000 with the intention of reviving culture.

Moreover, she pointed out that they intended to set up a campsite budgeted at P50 000 and a botanical garden at P30 000.

In addition, to generate funds for their projects the secretary said they would have a raffle, auction, sponsored walk and mini market.

She said they plan to protect their natural resources by working with the department of mines concerning slate rocks found in the area, which are sometimes mined illegally by some companies.

Ms Motshepa added that there was a perennial river that passes through the village, hence as a committee they would like to see it turned into a tourist attraction.

She said they were still to inquire about the issues concerning water rights as the river should benefit more people.

On the constituency funding, she revealed that for the 2018-2019 they were allocated P431 000 to be used for such projects as pavements and renovation of the community hall.

However, she was not pleased with the issue of stormwater drainage, which she said was not given attention even though it was likely to destroy the soil surface and lead to soil erosion.

The committee has also rented out one of their buildings to Water Utilities Corporation to use it as an office. ENDS