08 Nov 2022

Residents of Thamaga are demanding an explanation about the award of the Thamaga-Molepolole road tender, and the whereabouts of the contractor. Residents expressed displeasure at the pace at which the contractor was doing his job during the area MP’s on-going consultative meetings recently. 

Some residents questioned the tender award process saying giving tenders to the lowest bidder had cost this country a lot as such contractors tended to do a shoddy job. “Tsenyang motho yo o tlaa kgonang tsela. Kgang ya lowest bidder ke yone e jang lefatshe le,” said an angry resident Mr Moemedi Motswete. He demanded that the contractor be black listed and a new one be appointed. 

Other residents argued that since it was clear that the contractor did not have capacity to complete the project, the Department of Roads should explain why they continued to entertain him. 

Mr Keagile Keitsile, was among residents who proposed that the contractor should be fired. “Why should we continue giving Batswana some of these big projects while it is clear that they do not have capacity,” he asked. He expressed concern that the contractor was being handled with kids’ gloves? “That constitutes corruption because the contractor is paid with tax payers’ money,” he said. 

Another resident, Mr Moses Morwawakgosi wondered why the contractor was awarded the project while it was clear that he did not have equipment. In response MP for Thamaga/Mogoditshane, Mr Palelo Motaosane, said he was also saddened by what was happening to the road project, whose funding he had fought hard for. 

He too demanded answers from the Department of Roads. Principal roads engineer, Mr Mphetang Mmolawa explained that the rehabilitation of Thamaga/Molepolole road was commissioned in March 2022 and was to be completed in March 2023. 

He explained the project was awarded to a citizen-owned company which was the lowest bidder. He however, explained that initially there were concerns about whether the contractor would manage to carry out the project since he started the project very late. 

Mr Mmolawa said the contractor also did a substandard job when filling potholes and was instructed to redo the job. 

The contractor reportedly stopped the project blaming the rising cost of materials although he had paid accordingly, he said. Mr Mmolawa said with time, they wrote to contractor advising him to be on site within seven days, but he had failed to meet the ultimatum. 

It was later, on October 17, when they summoned him to the office that he explained that he had parted ways with the subcontractor and was busy looking for a replacement. 

He explained that the department was following all legal processes before they could expel the contractor from site. He therefore asked Thamaga residents to allow due process to take its course to avoid unnecessary litigation. 

The over P70 million asphalt overlay project has been awarded to Felyx Construction company, a 100% citizen owned company. ends