29 May 2014

Inadequate provision of storm water drainage facilities has remained a major challenge in the South East District Council (SEDC).

SEDC chairperson, Mr Thekiso Sorinyane expressed this during the council session on May 26. He pointed out that there was dire need for storm water master plan in the district but this had not been achieved due to unavailability of funds.

However, he said a request for funding to address the situation had been sent to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Due to this problem, he pointed out that during the month of December last year, the district experienced some heavy rains that caused flooding in some yards in Tlokweng.

“It is our mandate as the South East District Council to ensure that our roads are in an acceptable standard,” Mr Sorinyane said.

Furthermore, he pointed that the district roads also needed maintenance, which would cover re-sealing, filling of potholes, construction of shoulders and shoulder bricks, road markings and signage. He said improving the quality of the roads was necessary for the safety of all road users including pedestrians.

Mr Sorinyane regretted that it often took long time for basic developments and utilities such as access roads, power and water connection to reach newly allocated residential areas. He said this makes it difficult for people to carry out developments at their newly allocated plots hence noncompliance to existing regulations.

He said this also fueled crime in those areas as security was compromised by poor accessibility, darkness and dispersed settlements.

On other issues, the council chairperson, Mr Sorinyane said the council is in the process of developing a local economic development framework. He said the initiative is aimed at assisting the local economic growth through the use of locally available resources and opportunities.

During comments, Specially Elected councilor, Mr Thabang Keakile decried the will of stakeholders to service land. Hence, he said there is need for the land board, Botswana Power Corporation, Water Utilities Corporation and council to collaborate to address the problem.

Further, he pointed that there is need for the council and other stakeholders to come up with initiatives of making funds for the district to carry out its developments.

“We need money to develop everything,” Mr Keakile said.

While councillor Mosenki Mpuang of Otse South complained that the rolling out of the Youth Development Fund (YDF) has been slow in Otse.

Councillor Stella Matlapeng of Tlokweng West complained that the Tlokweng sub district has been sidelined in the upcoming districts developments. ENDS