25 Jun 2020

Kgalagadi District Council’s budget of P229 million has been cut by P12 million to cater for fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during a full council session in Tsabong on June 23, council chairperson, Mr Hendrick Jacobs said the pandemic had affected national coffers.

He said Kgalagadi did not escape, hence its budget being reduced to P216 million.

Councilor Jacobs said the reduction meant that the council would have to forgo some of its intentions. He encouraged all to maximise on the minimal resources without compromising service delivery.

Mr Jacobs said travel undertaken outside the district must be prioritised and officers must find cheaper accommodation as a cost containment measure.

On progress of key projects in the district, he said, construction of Tsabong multi species abattoir had been awarded to Innovative Process Solutions company at a value of P101 million.

He said the abattoir would come handy because the district was a small stock hub. Tenders for construction of Tsabong mini stadium were closed in December 2019.However, he explained that due to insufficient funds, evaluation and adjudication were not carried out, but efforts would be made to augment the funds with the 2020/2021 constituency projects funds to ensure commencement of the project.

Mr Jacobs said in the current financial year, constituency projects would not be funded because the COVID-19 pandemic had punched a hole in the budget.

On other things, Mr Jacobs appreciated Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) for keeping the water flowing when water was needed most in line with COVID-19 health protocols.

 “I will like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to WUC for having embarked on decisive measures to improve water availability. Despite operating with a low budget, the corporation played a pivotal role in combating spread of COVID-19,” he said.

He said the Department of Water and Sanitation continued to improve water situation in the district through World Bank funds, where a saline water feasibility study worth P25 million was being carried out.

The study covered covered an area from Omaweneno to Bokspits. The project, he said, was expected to be completed in 24 months and it involved drilling of eight exploration boreholes, test pumping of 16 boreholes, hydrochemistry and ground water modeling.

Still on ground water resources, he said, Orange- Senqu River Commission had appointed Bitte Group-Arisu Company to design and build groundwater desalination plants in Rappelspan and Struizendam to assist communities with water for livestock.

In an interview, Hunhukwe/ Monong Ncaang councillor, Mr Dipogiso Gaboetsalwe said the budget cut was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it was critical to focus on saving lives rather than developments.

Generally, he said, the community was doing well in terms of adhering to the health protocols. 

He however noted that alcohol remained a challenge and needed to be addressed lest it reversed the gains that the country had made in the fight against COVID-19.

For his part, Draaihoek/Makopong councillor, Mr Moses Chimbombi, also appreciated government efforts in fighting COVID-19.

However, he called for more accountability on utilisation of COVID-19 funds, arguing that there was a blanket cut of the budget across all the districts.

Furthermore, Cllr Chimbombi noted that it was critical to draw important lessons from COVID-19 and strive to be innovative and be food self-sufficient. ends