29 Nov 2022

The Jwaneng Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) plot waiting list currently stands at 4 322 against the less than 100 plots available.

The waiting list for the scheme, which remains government’s  primary  means of providing shelter for low income earners, dates back to 1987.

Speaking at a Jwaneng Town Council meeting recently,  Mayor Olga Ditsie said despite the long and aged list, only 75 plots were available, 39 of which had already been allocated.

“The allocation of the remaining plots has been delayed by the technical challenges experienced in the land allocation system and in an effort to address this, the Department of Lands has been engaged to allocate the remaining plots on our behalf. We are hopeful that the plots will be allocated before the end of this financial year,” she said.

On land for places of worship, one of the burning issues in the township, Ms Ditsie said following the re-designing of the layout adjacent to fire brigade, commonly known as the church enclave, a layout plan of 48 plots had been approved by the relevant structures and submitted to surveys and mapping department for action. 

She said they included 30 civic and community plots, three commercial, 14 mixed and one open space.

“Funds permitting, cadastral maps will be submitted to the Department of Lands for servicing and allocation. I am optimistic that the available plots will address the current demand on land for places of worship in our town,” she said.

Concerning infrastructure development and maintenance, Ms Ditsie expressed concern over contractors which failed to complete projects.

“While I understand this challenge has emanated largely from lack of resources and tools on our part, especially the required soft and hardware for design development, I also note the contractor issues that continue to bedevil the district,” she said.

Ms Ditsie said contractors continued to disappoint as they either produced substandard work or continually deserted construction sites, thus causing cost and time overruns and severe disruption of services.

She said so far, five development projects had not started, which she said included constituency community ones such as school kitchens and classroom blocks.

“We also have a number of projects that were funded under the economic recovery and transformation plan in financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22 such as maintenance of teachers’ houses and the sewerage system. Other projects were awarded but suffered contractual challenges which delayed commencement,” she said.

On a  positive note, Ms Ditsie said there had been much needed improvement in implementation of road projects. 

    She cited the Mmathethe road, whose project memorandum for reclamation and asphalt overlay had been approved.ENDS