10 Apr 2023

The on-going Tutume community sport facility project is expected to be complete  by June .

This follows intervention by the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture and Tutume Sub-council to resolve the issues that negatively affected the progress of the project.

Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Mr Tumiso Rakgare revealed this when responding to a parliamentary question from the Nkange MP, Dr Never Tshabang.

He explained that the actual commencement of the construction was November 18, 2021 with Phase One which comprised of boundary wall, ticket booths, dressing rooms and ablution blocks.

Mr Rakgare said the works were awarded to two companies, Cressiando and Aureole Works, adding that the two contractors were expected to have completed the works on March 11, 2022.

“The two however failed to complete the works and extension of time was granted for completion of works in August 2022. The contractors had furnished the council with price adjustment requests, citing the rise in commodity and material prices in the market,” he added.

Mr Rakgare explained that the submissions by the two companies were assessed, negotiated and an agreement was reached between the two, based on current rates.

He said with regards to the said sub-standard material used in the project, the ministry and Tutume council were not aware of such and he reassured Parliament that all the material prescribed to be used at the site were tested and had passed the set standards.

Mr Rakgare stressed that the ministry and the council were compelled to comply with the Building and Control Act where all the building works were designed to meet the set specifications.

“All the mortar block bricks used at the project have met the 7mpa (megapascals) quality standard and were procured in Tutume while the stock bricks were procured at a reputable company in Francistown supplying major industrial construction companies. The rest of the material used in the project also passed BOBS and SABS and have gone through approval stages before installation,” he said.

In addition, Mr Rakgare said the council personnel had assured them that all stages of construction went through inspection and approval before contractors could proceed with other stages of construction.

Dr Tshabang had asked the minister to update Parliament on progress of the Tutume Stadium and to state if he was aware that there were delays in the construction of the stadium and that the material being used was substandard. ENDS