23 Mar 2023

Boteti District Council has been allocated P72.8 million for the 2023/2024 financial year for implementation of twelve development projects.

Delivering his maiden full council session speech in Letlhakane on Tuesday, council chairperson Mr Molemi Galeragwe said the twelve projects included the construction of internal roads, installation of street lights, storm water drainage and the upgrading of some customary courts.

He said projects that would be undertaken in Letlhakane included the design and construction of 25 kilometres of internal roads, storm water drainage with solar street lighting, and the upgrading of two customary court offices to type two and type three in Rakops and Letlhakane, respectively.

Project memorandum, he said, had been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for approval while in the meantime preparations for tenders were ongoing to fast-track implementation.

Further, he noted that Boteti District opened 2022/2023 financial year with a deficit of P45.4 million.

“Council has budgetary constraints as this accumulated deficit has affected its general fund and cash flow, hence impacting on the day-to-day running of the district as the operating cost increases every year while the revenue support grant is static,” he said.

He stated it also affected the pace of project implementation resulting in some projects taking longer to be completed.

Looking back, he said the district had an approved budget of P114.3 million for the 2022/2023 financial year, being revenue support grant amounting to P108.4 million and internally generated revenue amounting to P5.9 million.

He said the revenue support grant was disbursed at the tune of P27.1 million on quarterly basis and the last batch for financial 2022/23 was received during January 2023. A total of about P3 million was recorded on revenue collected against a target of P5.8 million) which was 51 per cent collection rate, the chairperson said.

Mr Galeragwe said the district therefore recorded an overall shortfall of P2.9 million having spent a total amount P137.8 million against the allocated P114.3 million.

He explained that there was over-expenditure of P23.5 million which emanated mainly from four votes of destitution, water, electricity bills, security services and refuse contract.  ENDS