11 Jan 2023

Mmathethe/Molapowabojang MP, Dr Edwin Dikoloti has assured his constituents that the road linking Mmathethe, Metlobo, Bray and Werda would be upgraded to bitumen standard during the 2023-2025 Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP).

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Mmathethe on Monday, Dr Dikoloti said indications were that tarring of the road, which links the Good Hope District to the Kgalagadi District, would be done in sections due to the length of the road.

"Plans are that the project will start with construction of the section between Mmathethe and Metlobo. It will be followed by the section from Metlobo to Bray," said Dr Dikoloti, who is also the Minister of Health.

He explained that the project would be unbundled into different tenders for the Mmathethe-Metlobo section, Metlobo-Bray section and the Bray-Werda section.

He said tarring of the road would make traveling from Good Hope District to the Kgalagadi District easy. He also expressed confidence that it would bring socio-economic benefits to villages in the Goodhope District.

Mmathethe senior chief representative Mr Thabo Mathiba, in his welcome remarks, had asked for update on progress of tarring the Mmathethe-Metlobo road.

Mr Mathiba also complained about stock theft in the Mmathethe area, which he said negatively impacted farmers. He therefore asked for the strengthening of measures to curb stock theft and pleaded with the community to collaborate with the police in ensuring the apprehension of livestock thieves.

"Our cattle are disappearing, farmers have lost a lot of livestock due to stock theft," Mr Mathiba said.

Mmathethe Village Development Committee deputy chairman Mr Kagiso Mathiba asked for infrastructure developments in the village such as street lights to reduce darkness on the roads at night, and construction of two culverts to facilitate safe crossing at streams in the village during rainy seasons.

He also asked for improvements to provision of potable water in the village. He said there was no water in some parts of the village. He further asked for major maintenance of Mmathethe Junior School.

"The school is dilapidated and requires major maintenance," Mr Mathiba said.

The deputy chairman thanked government for provision of WiFi in schools in the village.

One of the residents, Mr Bateke Seope asked for laws to be reviewed to ensure that victims of stock theft were compensated. He also asked for penalties for stock thieves to be increased. Ends