14 Sep 2020

Kweneng District Council (KDC) recently ushered in new board members of Kweneng District Ventures (KDV) (Pty) Ltd, a company wholly owned by the council.

The new board members are Ms Tshenolo Leshomo, Ms Goitseone Matlhabaphiri, Mr Aryl Ralebala (Chairperson), Mr Tshoganetso Rantshilo and Mr Gaotlhobogwe Baleseng.

Speaking at the orientation, Kweneng District Council chairperson, Mr Motlhophi Leo said the establishment of KDV followed the enactment of the Local Government Act of 2012, that provided for formation of council owned companies to improve council efficiencies and raise funds.

He said KDC resolved to form the company in 2012 and registered it in 2014 with a board of directors appointed in 2015.

Mr Leo however, indicated that the company failed to bear fruit, leading to councillors losing confidence in it.

He thus urged the new board to restore their confidence in the company.

Kweneng District Council Secretary Mr Goleba Kgari revealed that the council spent over P10 million towards the establishment the company.

Although he acknowledged that all council initiatives had challenges, Mr Kgari urged the board to hasten to generate income as the council only generates a paltry 5 per cent of its own income.

The council secretary also pleaded with the new board to ensure that the company sustained itself.

KDV Interim Managing Director, Mr Namedi Modisi, said the main objective of the company was to generate revenue for council, under the focus areas of property development; waste recycling and conversion of waste to fertilizer or energy and management of outdoor advertising signs.

He said so far, the company had made remarkable progress in the development of a mall at Nkoyaphiri council plot, adding that although the company was allocated 1.5 square metres at Molepolole bus terminal within the bus rank, it had been unable to attract investors.

Mr Modisi said talks were at an advanced stage with a South African company to set up a waste separation and recycling facility within the Gamodubu landfill.

He said the company was also in talks with a Japanese company to establish a waste to organic fertilizer plant. He stated that they had unsuccessful projects such as the tea/coffee project that was inherited from council; while the waste to potable water project, micro lending as well as purchase order financing had failed due to lack of competitive edge.

He echoed the council secretary’s sentiments that the company was under pressure to deliver something tangible as councillors wanted results urgently.

The board chairperson, Mr Ralebala said they were privileged to have been chosen to run the company, promising that they would work hard to turn the company around though they were starting without seed capital. ENDS