21 Jun 2020

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Thulagano Segokgo says the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to delays in resolving the Tshesebe -Masunga road tender appeal case.

Addressing residents of villages along the Tshesebe-Masunga road in Mosojane on June 18, Minister Segokgo stated that due to courts having been put on hold during the lockdown period, the road project was indirectly affected.

The Tshesebe-Masunga road was initially awarded to Bash Carriers in 2017, where the contractor failed to perform and deliver his contractual obligations, which subsequently led to government terminating the contract in September 2018.

The road was then rewarded to Bango Trading Company and Zebra Construction joint venture in 2019, after which it was suspended due to some contactors filing a case at the

Tender Resolution Board to challenge government’s decision to re-award the tender.
Briefing residents on the progress, Mr Segokgo said the judge who was initially assigned the case recused himself, hence a new judge was assigned the case on June 16, 2020.

Mr Segokgo explained that when the issue went to court, the ministry had to comply with court regulations and let the law take its cause in resolving the matter.

He said it was within the contractors’ rights to query the case outcomes in the court of law, hence his ministry could not do anything about the road at the moment except wait for the court ruling.

The minister stated that his ministry had hoped that the matter would be resolved before the end of the 2019/2020 financial year; however it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ministry treats the Tshesebe-Masunga road as priority project, he said, adding that once the court releases a verdict they would expedite the commencement of the road project.

Responding to questions from residents, the director of Roads, Mr Modisa Segokgo indicated that the reason behind awarding the initial contractor the entire road was the fact that the road in question  was only 28km long with a few access roads to Masukwane, Mulambakwena and Letsholathebe.

He stated that the contractor had indicated in his tender documents that he was well equipped to fulfill the tender requirements, having sufficient machinery and personnel required.

The director said the Department of Mines had awarded them nine prospective licenses for burrow pits to access gravel, which he said would eliminate delays experienced in the past when the contractor cited that they could not obtain licenses.

Councillor Mbaakanyi Smart of Mosojane ward had asked the minister if it was possible for the Ministry of Transport and Communications to resolve the matter with all contractors without taking the matter to court.

Masukwane VDC member, Mr Balemi Siku wanted to know why the ministry had not considered splitting the tender from the beginning and award the access roads to a sub-contractor to avoid delays.

Mulambakwena VDC vice chairperson, Mr Rodgers Madzambi questioned the minister if they had obtained mining rights from the Department of Mines to avoid delays that were experienced initially. MP for Tati West, Mr Simon Moabi said roads were important in every person’s life in that they connect them to other places to access services.

He said undeveloped roads were his constituents’ biggest outcry, noting that it was disappointing for Tshesebe-Mosojane road to have been marred by so much controversy that led to its delays.

In his remarks, Kgosi Sibangani Mosojane of Mosojane pleaded with Minister Segokgo to treat the Tshesebe-Masunga road as a priority to ensure it comes to fruition.

Kgosi Mosojane said the lack of a bridge at Ntoba River made it impossible for Mosojane and Masukwane children to go to school in Masunga during the rainy season. ENDS