05 Mar 2024

The water crisis, which has been affecting most villages in the Tonota District is expected to come to an end soon.

Tonota District Council chairperson, Mr Baemedi Medupi told a full council meeting in Tonota on Monday that the contractor was on-site to address water situation at Shashe West villages.

He said the contractor started work on February  6 and the project was expected to complete by November 5.

“The contract amounts to P74 million”, Mr Medupi informed the meeting. Regarding water supply challenges in Mhakamme, Leloto, Lephane and the A1 routes, Mr Medupe stated that the projects were at implementation stage. Furthermore, he stated that following the recent visit by the permanent secretary in November 2023, the leadership of the Water Utilities Corporation had provided feedback regarding progress of the projects.

“The proposed projects will successfully be funded with an amount yet to be revealed”, he said.

He stated also that tendering processes had already begun and that the tentative date for site handover of the successful bidder was May this year.

“The project is estimated to take six months to complete”, he said. Meanwhile, Mr Medupi told the council that the Ministry of Local Government had secured funds to set up fire stations in ten councils including the Tonota District Council.

“Implementation plans have been drawn and the expectation is that the fire station should be operational in April 2025”, said Mr Medupi.

On Education, Mr Medupi said Tonota District Council had secured funds, procured and delivered stationery to schools within the Tonota region.

“We are constrained by our financial situation to address all needs, especially in schools, but I believe we will do more in the future”, he added.

Ms Mpho Modiega-Mosweu, a senior district officer-development for Tonota District Council, highlighted that the construction of the 65 kilometres Mmandunyane-Shashemooke-Borolong-Chadibe-Mathangwane road was currently at 15 per cent against the planned 32 per cent. The tender, the council learned, had been awarded to Unik Construction Engineering at a sum of P675 730 941.34 and that the project expenditure stood at P96 121 740.02. The road work according to Ms Modiega-Mosweu had been divided into three sections: Section 1 (Shashemooke to A1), Section 2 (Shashemooke-Mathangwane) and Section 3 (Makobo and Natale access roads).

“The road bed preparation is ongoing and 13.75 kilometres have been completed for Section 1,” she added.

 The project has employed 188 people (69 skilled labour, 16 semi-skilled and 103 unskilled labour). Out of the 188 employees, nine are non-citizens and 179 are citizens.

On other issues, Ms Modiega-Mosweu relayed that Tonota District had been experiencing high crime rates, adding that unavailability of street lights in wards contributed to the crime.

She said wards like Mhakamme and Seroto had turned into red zones. “Harbouring and employing illegal immigrants as well as lack of security personnel at business premises pose a threat within the community”, said Ms Modiega-Mosweu.

She said there were plans to intensify public campaigns, stakeholder collaboration, and nurture existing crime prevention structures to help curb the high crime rates in the Tonota region. Ends