16 Apr 2015

Delays in the completion of the P115 million Molepolole bus rank project is worrisome, says local government and rural development assistant minister, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen expressed disappointment at the slow pace the project was moving and doubted that indeed the project would be completed at the end of July as per the contractor’s promise.

The assistant minister said this during a brief visit to the project this week.

He was also unhappy that a total of P110 million had already been paid to the contractor, expressing fear that in case the contractor abandons the project, the remaining P5 million would not complete the remaining work.

The project that was initially scheduled for completion in August last year was also given an additional extension of up to December but failed again to meet the deadline due to a number of factors that included among others the importation of suitable materials, said the Estate Construction’s Site Agent, Mr Michael Karera.

The excessive rainfall last year was also attributed to have stalled progress resulting in the loss of production time. Mr Karera had in the past assured the minister that despite challenges encountered they were working around the clock to complete the project.

The project, as Mr Karera highlighted is currently two months behind but had made an additional request to complete it in July and were still awaiting response.

For his part, the project engineer, Mr Julius Swapo cited the alteration to the terminal building as some of the delaying factors, as well as electricity and water reticulation for the 92 stalls to enable users pay separately contrary to the initial one line for all the stalls.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen also had an opportunity to visit the Gamodubu Land Fill where he briefly met staff concerning their welfare.

Briefing the minister after the guided tour of the facility, the Kweneng District Council chief executive, Mr Wazha Tema decried huge payment to servicing the facility with some district councils owing huge sums of money as service charges.

He further bemoaned the over P92 000 monthly payment towards diesel used for the operation of the incinerator and other expenses totaling close to half a million pula for the running of the landfill.

The council secretary also briefed the minister about consultations that the council intents to initiate with the health ministry to consider transferring the incinerator that is currently lying idle at Scottish Livingstone Hospital premises to complement the existing one at the landfill.

The SLH incinerator as Mr Tema stated could help arrest the situation as it uses coal that could relief the diesel one that does not even have the capacity to carry loads of clinical waste not anticipated by council.

The landfill staff complained about the poor working conditions that drastically affect their daily operations including lack of provision of accommodation and failure to get dirt allowance among others.

They however expressed happiness over the assistant minister’s visit as it was said to be the first of its kind since the facility started operating in 2009.Mr Van Der Westhuizen, also MP for Kgalagadi West ordered the council to seriously look into concerns raised by landfill staff and map the way forward.  ENDS