22 May 2019

The second phase of the solar street lights project, undertaken through the Constituency Community funding, is expected to cover 6.7 and 7.9 kilometres in Kanye North and South respectively.

This followed the successful completion of the first phase on the second week of this monthy, which cost over P4 million from the overall P7.4 million budget.

Even though the project was scheduled to be completed by April 24, there was a slight delivery challenge at the Durban port which resulted in a two-week delay.

Addressing Kanye Administrative Authority (KAA) sub-council session, the chairperson, Mr Tlhomamo Dibeela noted that the council had engaged the services of Ramodise Projects, which was also doing the first phase, to start procurement of additional lights.

“The installation of solar street lights project has been provided for under the Constituency Community Projects under Kanye North and Kanye South constituencies. Installation of 169 poles is planned to be done on 6.7km on Kanye North and 195 poles to be installed covering 7.9km in Kanye South,” he explained.

Mr Dibeela noted that the additional streets lights would cover Sepojane paved roads, Roads Central Depot to Mokgadi primary school, Prisons to Police Staff houses, A2 road to Mmathethe cattle grid, Kgwatlheng junction to Kgwakgwe and Mmamokhasi paved road, among others.

He said they had requested a quotation from the contractor and the adjudication committee had since approved direct procurement of additional lights.

On another related matter, the sub-council chairman said a limited 2019/20 budget did not allow for major maintenance, hence resorting to minor routine maintenance in council facilities.

Consequently, he said they would change Polokwe roundabout lights from high pressure sodium to LED.

“The division will change lights at Polokwe circle from high pressure sodium light fittings to LED fittings. We are going to be changing lights every year to LED so as to reduce electricity bills,” he noted.

He therefore, cautioned motorists against vandalism and called on members of the public to alert the council or the police of any incidents of damage to the streetlights poles.

On other issues, Mr Dibeela said plans for the construction of a mini stadium in Kanye have already been approved and submitted for environmental assessment, after which more surveys would be conducted.

“The next phase of the pre-tender estimate is to carry out the Topographic and Geotechnical surveys which will be done after approval by DEA. We anticipate the process to take four months,” he said. ENDS