03 Feb 2019

Serowe Administrative Authority (SAA) has adopted a report on the proposed Ipelegeng projects for 2019/20 estimated to cost P27 million.

The report was adopted together with the proposed community constituency projects report during the sub-council special meeting in Serowe on February 1.

The report revealed that during implementation of the proposed Ipelegeng projects, priority would be given to labour intensive projects.

It also showed that a total of 108 projects would be implemented, 10 for maintenance, three for constructions, eight for fencing, one being desilting and 84 labour intensive projects.

Works to be undertaken regarding maintenance projects include attending to existing water leakages, paintings, repainting, beam filling and filling cracks as well as replacing broken doors and window panes.

The projects also include maintenance of 8 LA2 houses, ramps at community halls and maintenance of pre-schools, replacement of damaged ceiling and glazing of broken window panes.

Work under the fencing projects include fencing of three dumping sites, two dikgotla, two VDC houses and fencing of seed storage houses for agriculture.

There is also de-bushing and litter picking. The report stated that more beneficiaries would be engaged as per the village quota. 

The projects aim at bringing the communities environment to a more habitable state in terms of cleanliness through litter picking, vegetation control and de-bushing.

There are also three construction projects, two guard rooms and a toilet at a kgotla. Commenting on the report, councillors raised a concern about Ipelegeng projects, noting that they were not developmental.

They noted that Ipelegeng employees were not supervised, as they were always seen seated under trees during working hours.

They noted that implementation of some projects were delayed by poor cooperation and consultation between VDCs, Councillors and members of the community.

However, the chairperson of SAA Mr Mpho Kooreme said some projects were not implemented and finished on time because of shortage of public officers responsible and shortage of transport. 

He said since there was zero growth of public service, government works were done at a snail pace, hence the backlog of projects. About constituency projects, Mr Kooreme encouraged councillors, area MPs, dikgosi and VDCs to work together and prioritise projects.

A report on roads was not adopted because councillors were worried that it was not covering all roads in the sub-council. 

It was reported that the recent heavy rainfall in the sub-district washed away most of the roads and damaged culverts and bridges. ends