07 Sep 2022

Mahalapye bus rank is beginning to take shape and the reconstruction project is currently at 64 per cent progress.

Central District Council (CDC) chairperson, Mr Ketshwereng Galeragwe said oficially opening the council session this week.

Mr Galegarwe explained that the delays in the reconstruction process was due to the black cotton soil on the underlying layers that was established and had to be removed.

“We anticipate that the bus rank should be ready for use by the public during quarter four of the fiscal year,” he said.

However, he expressed concern about the costs that had since been incurred on the project, arguing that such funds could have been utilised in other critical projects.

“I am hopeful that this time around due care and diligence will be taken to avoid disappointment,” he said.

On one hand, he said, tender documents were still being vetted for procurement of six tipper trucks and four backhoe loader machines and over P13 million (P13, 554, 860.23) under the road fund levy had been reserved for the project.

“Acquisition of this plant is anticipated to relief the pressure in maintaining the roads. This will not be adequate and if we work in coordinated manner and collectively we can go a long way in reducing complaints about our roads from the public,” he said.

On maintenance of roads, Mr Galeragwe said funds amounting to P15 million had been approved under the development vote to maintain internal roads.

“The money is a drop in the ocean as each sub district has been allocated P2.1 million. “Small as it may seem, I believe that we will fully utilise these funds effectively and efficiently,” he added.

He further told the meeting that the council would continue with the implementation of education facilities backlog eradication programme.

“We have been allocated an amount of P47, 950, 000.00 for this programme and the procurement process for construction of various education facilities is in progress at our sub-district councils,” he said.

Nonetheless, he said part of the funds would be used to maintain school kitchens and fit them with pots, especially where they had never been availed.

Further, he said out of the seven sub-districts, three had already awarded tenders and commencement of construction was expected by end of this month.

Mr Galeragwe noted that government continued to prioritise rural electrification and the Central District had been allocated P3.3 million to install and connect electricity at various customary courts in the district, adding most of the projects were complete with over P2 million (P2, 327, 237.33) already spent.

Still under customary courts, he said, the district had been allocated P1.6 million to extend Ramokgonami and Rakops kgotla offices.

“At the moment, the project memorandum for Ramokgonami has been approved and the Rakops one is not yet approved,” he said. Ends