24 Mar 2021

Mahalapye Bus Rank has not been approved for funding in the current  DDP 8 or NDP11 due to budgetary constraints, says Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse.

He said in the meantime, the Central District Council (CDC) has secured an eight hactare plot on the southern side of Mahalapye along the A1 for development of a bus rank in future. Mr Autlwetse said the ministry, through the CDC, remained committed to involving private sector participation through expression of interest to develop the bus rank with its associated commercial infrastructure at the plot earmarked for the facility.

Pursuant to this, he said the CDC in 2019 received unsolicited bids from EMRE Investments who had shown interest to partner with council to develop the Letlhakeng, Tutume, Tonota and Mahalapye bus ranks.

He stated that the Central District Council had indicated to the developer that Mahalapye should be considered as priority since it was on an  undeveloped plot. “EMRE Investments submitted their proposal in October 2020 and showed interest to develop Tonota and Tutume bus ranks against Mahalapye plot which is on virgin land,” he said.

Mr Autlwetse further said the CDC had since resolved to collate the necessary information to facilitate the identification of the best model for partnership, with a view to submit to Mahalapye Sub-district Council in April 2021 prior to presentation to the Central District Council of June 2021 for consideration. Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere had asked the minister to update Parliament on progress regarding the construction of a state-of-the-art Mahalapye Bus Rank. ends