13 Jun 2019

There is delay in project implementation across the Boteti  sub-district, which is reportedly worsened by the sub-district’s poor financial state.

In his remarks at the sub-district council session on June 10, the council  chairperson, Mr Molemi Galeragwe said that the situation was due to over-expenditure and current budget cuts, as well as  lack of commitment by local tradesmen.

He said that out of the 37 destitute houses that were built the in 2018/19 financial year, 28 had been completed and the remaining eight were expected to be completed by June 30,.

The council chairperson said that implementation of 54 destitute houses and shortlisting of contractors was ongoing, with construction scheduled to commence this week. All the houses, he said, would be completed by October 31.

Mr Galeragwe noted that expression of interest for construction of ablution facilities and boundary wall with ticket booth for proposed Rakops mini-stadium was floating and would be closed by June 12.

The project for Thalamabele-Mosu road had been awarded to Landmark Projects at a tender sum of over P224 million.

He indicated that site handover was done on February 25 and currently the project is at mobilsation stage.

Furthermore, Mr Galeragwe stated that government’s initiative to provide breakfast to primary school children had started in all the 25 schools in the sub-district.

A total of 90 Ipelegeng volunteers, he said, had been engaged and had resumed duty in all the 25 primary schools to prepare breakfast every morning.

In addition the chairperson stated that the sub-district had since last quarter experienced an increase in demand for social safety nets, which had put a lot of pressure on financial resources.

He said since April, the sub-district had already spent over P3 million out of budget amount of over P17 million servicing 6 173 beneficiaries registered and assisted under different welfare programmes.

Mr Galeragwe also indicated that the sub-district continued to receive requests for assistance with living allowance for students admitted at vocational schools.

He noted that for May only, Boteti Sub-district paid a total of P576 815 for 512 pupils, and that had dented the sub-districts budget because at the end of the year P6million would have been spent on the  allowances only.
Therefore, the council chairperson pleaded with the councillors to come up with ideas on how the issue could be addressed bearing in mind the financial implications. ENDS