25 Feb 2013

Government is moving swiftly to repair storm water drainage system in Chadibe following recent floods.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Chadibe in Central District, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said work to be undertaken included expansion of existing culverts and construction of an additional one at the clinic.

This, the minister said, would be done by an already on-site contractor working on the road that passed through the village. Mr Molefhi said since the 2012/13 financial year was coming to an end, money that had been unspent would be used to undertake the project.

Chadibe floods that occurred several weeks ago were blamed on manmade trenches made during construction of a storm water drainage system in the village and the minister acknowledged that natural water flow was hampered, resulting in flooding.

He said as the project required more resources, it would be undertaken in the next financial year (2013/14). Minister Molefhi said experts would work with residents who knew the natural flow of water and at the end a detailed design would be produced.

He said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development was working on a formula to assist flood victims, adding the Ministry of Lands and Housing would be roped in if there were relocations needed for construction of the storm water drainage.

The minister said some of the trenches to be dug in the village would be undertaken through Ipelegeng to provide more opportunities for the villagers. He said contractors who failed to complete government projects on time would be blacklisted adding that a number of projects around the country had either been abandoned or a shoddy job done. 

Mr Bakuedi Masole, the Mahalapye district commissioner, said his team responded swiftly to assist those affected by rainstorm. Mr Masole said food given to the victims was meant to provide temporary relief as they had lost their food to the floods.

Residents welcomed the response from the government saying the contractor who undertook the project was to blame as it was not complete, leaving water to flood nearby farming fields.

They called for construction of a small dam to trap water to be used for agriculture purposes. ENDS