14 Oct 2020

Lobatse councillors have expressed displeasure at what they described as being denied information on service provision and development projects in the town by the administrative leadership.

Councillors voiced their frustration during a re-convened full council meeting on Tuesday when it became clear that presentation of the Urban Development Committee report was not on the agenda.

Non-availability of the same report two weeks ago caused adjournment of the original meeting before councillors responded to the speech by town mayor, Mr Essop Pandor.

Peleng East councillor Mr Ontiretse Mosimanewamacha said failure to provide reports to the council by the administrative leadership should be discouraged.

He said it showed lack of seriousness and disrespect to councillors. He further said developments would suffer if that attitude continued.

Nominated councillor Ms Malebogo Kruger said the issue indicated lack of diligence and accountability. She said councillors, as political leaders in the town, should be kept informed about services and development projects.

“We deserve to know what is happening because the community look for answers from us when things go wrong,” Ms Kruger said. 

Tsopeng North councillor Mr Otlaabusa Koorapetse said it was wrong to deny councillors information about the implementation of government programmes and services.

“It is the responsibility of councillors to monitor whether government programmes and services are implemented according to expectations. We cannot run a council while we do not know what is happening in parastatals and central government,” he said.

Peleng Central councillor Mr Phemelo Masisi warned that lack of feedback could lead to the community losing confidence on the town’s leadership.

Lobatse deputy district commissioner, Ms Kolobetso Sejakgomo apologised for failure to provide the urban development committee report. She assured that there was no intention to disrespect councillors by the administrative leadership. She further promised that the reports would be presented in the next full council meeting ENDS