04 Mar 2024

The Sese shopping mall, which is undertaken through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model between FAR Property Company and Sese Village Development Committee (VDC), is expected to create 150 jobs.

Once complete the mall would house Choppies Store, a filling station, a pharmacy and a post office, among other services. Speaking at the contract agreement signing ceremony at Sese kgotla on Thursday, Mabutsane District Council chairperson, Mr Kgopolo Setammere-Ramosesane, said the idea was conceptualised in 2021 to address demands of the ever growing population in Sese.

Mr Setammere-Ramosesane said the project resonated with the government’s call to partner with the private sector towards developments.

“This partnership is the new model that the government has adopted to facilitate community developments since the government cannot manage alone,” he said.

He said as the fastest growing village, owing to its proximity to the mining town of Jwaneng, Sese needed a robust approach to stimulate economic development. He said the new development would not only create job opportunities for the local people, but would also enhance convenience for services otherwise accessed at Jwaneng.

“The development will offer convenience and provide job opportunities for the local people directly and indirectly, thus contributing to the local economy by providing a source of income for employees. The initiative will stimulate the economic growth of the village by nurturing the business environment,” he noted.

Mr Setammere-Ramosesane implored the Sese VDC to prudently use the funds from the project by re-investing in more income-generating projects to advance the developments of the village.

The Chief Executive Officer of Choppies, Mr Ramachandran Ottapathu, said even though the development was expected to be completed in 24 months, he was optimistic that they would do so in 12 months. He allayed fears that the mall would have an adverse effect on informal sector businesses.

“The development will enhance overall service delivery in the village and also benefit a lot of small businesses either directly and indirectly. For example, cattle, small stock and vegetable farmers and other people in the informal sector will benefit from it,” he said.

The Chairperson of Sese VDC, Mr Toba Rabasimane, said they were delighted to finally welcome such a development, which will transform the economic landscape of their village.

“We applaud FAR Properties for this partnership that will bring a historic infrastructure which will transform the landscape of our village and also offer convenience for various services,” he said. ends