04 Jun 2026

Kweneng District Council (KDC) has warned of mounting pressure on service delivery after a reduction in its development budget for the 2026/27 financial year.

Council Chairperson, Mr Ontefetse Rankhibidu recently told a full council meeting that KDC’s development budget had dropped from P232.7 million in the 2025/26 financial year to P197 million this financial year, a reduction attributed to national fiscal pressures.

The budget cut he said meant new projects and initiatives would be limited, with available funds expected to focus mainly on completion of ongoing developments. “This situation is more than likely to place considerable pressure on service delivery and the implementation of planned programmes and projects,” Mr Rankhibidu warned.

Among projects affected is the much-anticipated A12 asphalt overlay project in Molepolole, which council had hoped would receive P10 million in funding.

He said the setback was expected to frustrate motorists and residents who had long raised concerns over deteriorating road conditions in the district.

Mr Rankhibidu said council had been unable to issue work instructions to contractors engaged under framework agreements for routine road maintenance due to financial limitations, despite urgent need for such services.

Amid financial strains, Mr  Rankhibidu acknowledged that government had still prioritised several infrastructure developments during the DDP9 period, including refurbishment of Molepolole College of Education and the Molepolole–Gamononyane North South Carrier connection project.

Again he said the council banking on P16.6 million under the Road Fund Levy Programme to procure road maintenance equipment and support maintenance of plant machinery and streetlights.

Mr Rankhibidu said the district remained committed to prudent spending and ensuring that limited resources produce meaningful development outcomes. ENDS