04 Aug 2020

Selebi Phikwe Town Council is on a mission to develop infrastructure to increase the town’s ability to generate wealth for its people.

Mayor Mr Lucas Modimana told BOPA in an interview recently that it was time to look beyond COVID-19 and BCL mine closure.

More attention should be on changing the face of Selebi Phikwe and making it lucrative to attract both foreign and local investors, he said.

The mayor said the council’s dream was to make the township a sport tourism hub as it had over the years successfully hosted the annual Softball Extravaganza, Phikwe Orange Marathon and would be hosting the Toyota Desert Race for the next three years.

For the dream to be realised, he said, the council needed to undertake infrastructure development, an initiative that would be embarked on  in partnership with the private sector.

Engaging the private sector in urban infrastructure and service delivery was critical in maximizing development impact thus reducing burden on the local authority, he said.

One of the projects in the pipeline is refurbishment of the Anne Adam’s Park, a 13-hectare plot located within the area designated for the township’s central business district.

Mr Modimana said the council had already advertised requesting proposals for the leasing, re-development, operation and maintenance of the park.

Amongst the new developments expected to be undertaken are a swimming pool, liquor restaurant, nursery shop, zipline, stake-park and five aside court.

Already the park has hilltop view-sites, children’s play area, camp site, a shelter with open bar area and braai area as well as a store-room. Also earmarked for refurbishment are Makhubu Club, golf course and the town hall.

The mayor said partners were being sought for the development of facilities.

Recreation, he said, contributed immensely to foreign direct investment and also played a pivotal part in tourism.

Mr Modimana further said the envisaged infrastructural developments would not only benefit  local and foreign investors but was expected to trickle down to the informal sector.

SMMEs, he said, could be used to resuscitate and diversify the economy as had been proven  in  other countries.

The informal sector was therefore an important part of the town’s fabric and must therefore be supported, he said. Ends