01 Oct 2024

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse has launched the Asphalt overlay, road edge repair, and road marking of Letlhakeng internal road funded with P1.2 million, as well as the street lights installation funded to the tune of P2.7 million.

Launching the projects in Letlhakeng, Minister Autlwetse commended Letlhakeng District Council for its commitment to delivering projects despite financial constraints, saying such helped government fulfil its promises to the citizens.

Moreover, he acknowledged challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasised government’s dedication to compensating for lost time in project execution.

He said  some funds were used to cushion the effects of the pandemic.

Mr Autlwetse dismissed as untrue, claims that  recent government projects launches were purely public relations strategies.

He emphasised the necessity of infrastructure development regardless of whether it was an election year or not.

He said government could not abdicate its responsibilities just because it was an election year.

The minister expressed concern over reports of Village Development Committee (VDC) members engaging in political activities, citing it as a public outcry.

Such, he said, had the potential to affect community members with no political affiliations. 

To address the issue, he said, there was a need for guidelines to determine suitable candidates for VDC positions.

He regretted the inability of VDC to maintain own infrastructure such as houses, urging the committee to utilise revenues from rentals on maintenance rather than relying on council. 

Lack of accountability within VDC offices, he said was a worrisome issue needing immediate attention.

Meanwhile, Letlhakeng District Council chairperson, Mr  Anderson Mathibe, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to prioritising projects that benefitted the broader community. 

Minister Autlwetse also unveiled the Letlhakeng council’s new logo and officially handed over to the community the completed projects for 2019/ 2020 to 2023/ 2024 period.

The projects included Letlhakeng bus rank, installation of solar streetlights at Letlhakeng bus rank, paving of roads in Letlhakeng, Khudumelapye, Motokwe, spot improvement at Moshaweng, Maboane, and Motokwe.

They also included gravelling of Salajwe road, bush clearing of access roads, and demarcated plots layout in Letlhakeng, Metsibotlhoko, and Sesung, patching of potholes in Letlhakeng and Ditshegwane, as well as dry grading of 400 km roads across the district among others. Ends