12 Feb 2023

Selebi Phikwe based companies will benefit from projects that will be undertaken through the Constituency Community Projects (CCP).

Addressing residents of Selebi Phikwe during a kgotla meeting at Ikageleng ward, Selebi Phikwe Mayor Mr Lucas Modimana said the council would embark on a number of projects geared towards the maintenance of internal roads and construction of stormwater drainage.

He said the P20m exercise would benefit companies based in Selebi Phikwe and would also create employment for Selebi Phikwe residents, especially the youth.

On other issues, he encouraged former BCL mine employees to seek employment at other mines in the country as other mines needed people of their qualifications and experience.

He said it was high time they closed the BCL mine chapter and started a new chapter with other mines, adding that Premiere Nickel Resources which bought the two mines formerly owned by BCL mine would not be able to absorb all the people who lost their jobs when BCL mine shut down.

Mr Modimana also explained that the council provided social services to 205 orphans as well as 322 vulnerable children.

Under the Ipelegeng programme, he said the social welfare programme employed 1601 workers in Selebi Phikwe.

He also took the opportunity to welcome the new Town Clerk Mr Motshwariemang Matseka who took over the baton from Mr Stephen Motlogelwa.

For his part Mr Matseka explained that some roads were not in a good state and would be maintained under the CCP, adding that the council managed to purchase all the material needed for the re-sealing of potholes.

Regarding streetlights, he confirmed that funds were available to maintain the streetlights, an exercise he said was expected to be completed by March.

Mr Matseka further explained that the council had an obligation to take care of orphans and vulnerable children.

However, he said where there was need, the council also helped children from less privileged families with uniforms and other necessities.

He said parents who left their children under the care of their grandparents should make a provision for their children failing which the grandparents should report them for child negligence.

Mr Matseka said the council continued to register reports of grandparents who approached the council asking for the provision of uniforms and other necessities for these children yet their biological parents had to fend for them. ENDS