17 May 2022

Boteti Sub-district council officials have acknowledged the challenging situation of road networks in the Boteti East Constituency, which is exacerbated by limited funds.

Responding to concerns raised by Letlhakane residents regarding the status of internal roads during a kgotla meeting addressed by their legislator Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe on Friday, Senior Assistant Council Secretary Mr Christopher Maramba said a combined distance of 147km of internal gravel roads in the village needed immediate repair. 

He said due to limited funds, the sub-council was currently doing spot improvement on the most affected parts of the road. 

Mr Maramba said the local authority was engaging companies in the sub-district for assistance. He said internal roads in Letlhakane including street lights and stormwater drainage would require an estimated P500 million. 

Residents of other villages in the constituency were equally concerned by the status of internal roads and those connecting other villages. 

At Khwee, Kgosi Gabareutwe Boloka asked MP Lelatisitswe to engage companies in the mining sector and others to assist in maintaining the main road connecting the village to Letlhakane. 

Mr Boloka said the road needed gravelling as it had turned into a water stream, which made their movement difficult during the rainy season. 

Kgosi Paulson Keitlhaganetse of Mmeya appealed to the council to re-grade Mmeya/Mokubilo road, which he said was currently not in a good condition. 

At Mmakgama lands, residents appealed to the council to consider debushing and gravelling an alternative and shorter road to Mosu. 

Mr Magopelo Bayang said the sub council should consider maintaining the road that crosses over Noka-ya-bakalaka from Mmakgama to Mosu. 

Meanwhile, at Mosu the residents commended government for tarring the road from Thalamabele veterinary gate to Mosu. However, they appealed for tarring of the 39km connecting their village with Mmatshumu. 

At Mmatshumu residents requested for debushing of Mmatshumu/Letlhakane road. One of the residents Mr Goabaone Bolesitswe suggested that the P4 million reserved for dry grading and spot improvement of Mmatshumu/Mosu road be used to tar part of it in stages. Mr Bolesitswe also appealed to government to consider gravelling Mmatshumu/Gweta road going through Thabatshukudu and Tshwagong. 

He said the road was the shortest link between the two villages, but rendered movement difficult during the rainy season as it passed through a salt pan. Responding to residents, Mr Lelatisitswe said plans to improve the road situation were underway.

He said in Khwee, the road would be maintained through dry grading and spot movement. Mr Lelatisitswe said the tender for the project was at procurement stage and would cost P5 million. ends