04 Jul 2023

Lobatse Residents and companies have been beseeched to pay council rates and levies on time as failure to pay hindered delivery of services to the community.

The council’s revenue collection during the first two months of the 2023/2024 financial year was below the planned target as a total of P772 031 was collected by end of May against a target of P18 655 340 for this financial year.

Addressing a full council meeting recently Lobatse Town Council (LTC) mayor Mr Mosimanegape Dithebe said collection rate was  four per cent.

“This is mainly because it is the beginning of the financial year and collection is usually low, and the fact that billing of rates is not yet done as council is experiencing a challenge with Cogsdale rate system. 

Council is working on resolving the matter. May I also implore all Lobatse stakeholders owing council rates, service levies and other fees for services rendered to kindly pay the debts as the income will come handy in delivering services back to our community,” he said.

Mr Dithebe said the council  was operating under constrained recurrent development budget allocation of just P149 200 220 for this financial year.

He further said the council was allocated P27 293 875 for implementation of development projects and programmes.  

He said P800 000 from those funds would be spent on fencing the Tsinami farm, a 25 hectares farm to be used for fodder production project.

The mayor added that part of the funds would be spent on refurbishment of council buildings for utilisation by SMMEs as well as refurbishment of landfill warehouse.

He further said the council would spend P7 570 125 on construction of staff houses through the new Ipelegeng Skills Development Component, as well as other labour intensive components of the programme such as grass cutting and litter picking.

He further said council would construct a double storey flat under the Backlog Eradication Programme in an effort to ease accommodation shortage.

He said P3, 950,900 has been set aside for the project.

The mayor added that the council would carry out the upgrading of two kilometres of earth roads, 5.3 kilometres of road shoulder repairs, and the kerb lining and patching of internal one kilometre of roads through the Constituency Community Projects.

Mr Dithebe also said P973 850 would be spent on procurement of furniture, learning materials and outdoor play equipment for reception classes. ENDs