05 Jun 2022

Mayor of Jwaneng, Ms Olga Ditsie has made a commitment to ensuring that the council’s plans are implemented despite the existing challenges of rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in the mining town. 

Ms Ditsie made the assurance after her re-election, which will give her another two and a half years at the helm of the mining town, on Friday.

She said with experience, there was now no longer a need to cite the pandemic as a reason for failure to implement plans.

“During my first term as a mayor, I made a pledge to advocate for the developments of this town through my Mayoral Roadmap. I am proud to say regardless of the setbacks caused by COVID-19 impact on the budget, I am well on my way to achieving them,” she said. She said some of her priorities would be the environmental regeneration initiative as well as sports tourism, with plans already advanced to bring a marathon to Jwaneng before the end of the year. “I also look forward to seeing a return of community events that had ceased due to COVID- 19, big and beautiful shopping centres that we planned to bring back our vibrant Jwaneng, and I will not rest until life has returned to this town,” she said.

Ms Ditsie also appreciated fellow councillors for giving her another term, which she said indicated their trust in her as a female leader.

“I do not take for granted that you looked beyond our personal differences and made a decision that you believe is best for the community that you represent,” she said.

Her deputy, Mr Themba Pema, who also retained his seat, was also appreciative of the gesture of trust and called for team work among councillors and civil servants, without which he said the community would suffer.

For his part, Cllr Mokganedi Morwaagae said the councillors decided to give the two leaders another chance as they believed their initial term was frustrated by the COVID-19 challenges.

“Now that the pandemic has abated, we believe you will be in a position to take this town forward, so we have to hit the ground running to make up for lost ground. We have given you a chance to prove yourselves,” he said.

Mr Morwaagae also expressed his desire for the council to prioritise projects and services in the backlog over new ones such as maintenance of staff houses and relocation of Samaphaleche. ends