22 Sep 2020

Kgatleng District Council chairperson, Mr Daniel Molokwe, says the council has made no provisions for Independence Day celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing a full council session this week, he noted that health protocols prohibited a gathering of more than 50 people, hence suspension of the celebrations.

Mr Molokwe also said the council budget for 2020/21 had been cut due to the pandemic.

He said this reduced a revenue support grant from P161 656 985 to P151 805 166.82.

“The budget cut affected our service delivery negatively as it is inadequate to meet council needs,” said Mr Molokwe.

He indicated that because of the pandemic, the council was further obliged to commit P4 000 000 towards procurement of personal preventative equipment (PPE) for staff and primary schools.

Mr Molokwe said this commitment compelled the council to forgo some works budgeted for this financial year.

He said there was need for government to finalise the decentralisation policy, which he believed would go a long way in helping councils carry out development projects.

“This will assist us to carry out overdue developments construction of a new primary school in Oodi, phasing out of pit latrines at schools, the Letsibogo la Phalane and development of new landfill facilities,” he said.

Mr Molokwe further informed civic leaders that the council was unable to collect income as expected during the 2020/21 financial year.

“You will recall that during COVID-19 lockdowns, the movement was restricted and as such a lot of services were at a halt,” said Mr Molokwe.

He noted that council had estimated to collect a total sum of P4 421 393.75 by August 30, but instead collected P1 468 040. 56.

On Ipelegeng, Mr Molokwe said the programme was expected to have started effective this month.

He said 1 891 beneficiaries would be engaged on a monthly basis, inclusive of 772 cleaners already engaged at various schools in the district.

Mr Molokwe further said a total of 32 cleaning teams and 31 green scorpions across the district would be engaged to carry out 108 projects for the remainder of the financial year.

“This thus indicates that a cumulative of 15 714 beneficiaries will be engaged over the duration of the programme. The 2020/21 requested budget for the programme amounts to P12 862 117.54,” he said.

Mr Molokwe said construction of 2x4 double-storey teachers’ quarters and a toilet block at Lady Mitchison and Kgafela primary schools under the economic stimulus programme phase III was almost complete.

He said the project was left with water connection with negotiations ongoing between the contractor, council and Water Utilities Corporation (WUC).

“Construction of a 1x4 staff house in Oodi through the general fund has been completed and it has been handed over to the estate division for allocation to council staff,” he said.

He further said tender for procurement of a new bulldozer had been awarded at P2 415 840 and the contract was signed on September 4. “We await delivery of the plant, which I believe, will go a long way in addressing some of the concerns as previously raised in your various wards,” he said. BOPABy Omphile Ntakhwana

 

MOCHUDI - Kgatleng District Council chairperson, Mr Daniel Molokwe, says the council has made no provisions for Independence Day celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing a full council session this week, he noted that health protocols prohibited a gathering of more than 50 people, hence suspension of the celebrations.

Mr Molokwe also said the council budget for 2020/21 had been cut due to the pandemic.

He said this reduced a revenue support grant from P161 656 985 to P151 805 166.82.

“The budget cut affected our service delivery negatively as it is inadequate to meet council needs,” said Mr Molokwe.

He indicated that because of the pandemic, the council was further obliged to commit P4 000 000 towards procurement of personal preventative equipment (PPE) for staff and primary schools.

Mr Molokwe said this commitment compelled the council to forgo some works budgeted for this financial year.

He said there was need for government to finalise the decentralisation policy, which he believed would go a long way in helping councils carry out development projects.

“This will assist us to carry out overdue developments construction of a new primary school in Oodi, phasing out of pit latrines at schools, the Letsibogo la Phalane and development of new landfill facilities,” he said.

Mr Molokwe further informed civic leaders that the council was unable to collect income as expected during the 2020/21 financial year.

“You will recall that during COVID-19 lockdowns, the movement was restricted and as such a lot of services were at a halt,” said Mr Molokwe.

He noted that council had estimated to collect a total sum of P4 421 393.75 by August 30, but instead collected P1 468 040. 56.

On Ipelegeng, Mr Molokwe said the programme was expected to have started effective this month.

He said 1 891 beneficiaries would be engaged on a monthly basis, inclusive of 772 cleaners already engaged at various schools in the district.

Mr Molokwe further said a total of 32 cleaning teams and 31 green scorpions across the district would be engaged to carry out 108 projects for the remainder of the financial year.

“This thus indicates that a cumulative of 15 714 beneficiaries will be engaged over the duration of the programme. The 2020/21 requested budget for the programme amounts to P12 862 117.54,” he said.

Mr Molokwe said construction of 2x4 double-storey teachers’ quarters and a toilet block at Lady Mitchison and Kgafela primary schools under the economic stimulus programme phase III was almost complete.

He said the project was left with water connection with negotiations ongoing between the contractor, council and Water Utilities Corporation (WUC).

“Construction of a 1x4 staff house in Oodi through the general fund has been completed and it has been handed over to the estate division for allocation to council staff,” he said.

He further said tender for procurement of a new bulldozer had been awarded at P2 415 840 and the contract was signed on September 4. “We await delivery of the plant, which I believe, will go a long way in addressing some of the concerns as previously raised in your various wards,” he said. Ends