21 Apr 2024

Sikwane residents are elated over free connectivity and general improvement of power supply in the village. 

The residents expressed gratitude for government's faithfulness in a kgotla meeting that Mochudi East MP, Mr Mabuse Pule addressed on Tuesday, adding that some had already been connected while those who could not afford the cost of wiring had been given free ready boxes. Residents are also happy that electricity disruptions in the village had since stopped, thanks to Sikwane’s connection to the national grid last year. 

The village has been supplied from South Africa. On other issues, the residents said the Chema Chema Fund that intended to transform the informal sector by providing support to small businesses was exactly ‘what the doctor ordered’. 

However, they expressed reservations that the time frame of six months set for paying up loans was not feasible for some start up businesses unless market for their products had already been secured. 

Residents also said since Temo Letlotlo programme had not performed well this year due to unreliable rainfall, it would advisable for government to extend the declared drought period. Meanwhile, Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Israel Pule called for the upgrading of Sikwane Health Post to a 24-hour clinic and an ambulance to serve the river villages cluster of (Mabalane, Sikwane, Mmathubudukwane, Ramonaka and Malolwane). He also called for the maintenance of Sikwane and Kgabotshwene primary schools.

The chairperson also conveyed the residents' unhappiness with the reduction of Ipelegeng workers quota and further called for an update on the Ipelegeng skills component that was introduced to empower artisans. 

Meanwhile, Kgatleng District deputy council secretary, Mr Lucky Maoto clarified that Ipelegeng workers quota was initially increased by eight for a period of six months. 

He said thereafter, the number was taken back to the previous quota of 63 people. 

For his part, the area MP, Mr Pule, who is also an Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, implored residents to take up the Chema Chema Fund to improve their lives. 

He said they should not worry about the initiative’s teething problems and encouraged them to seek clarity at Local Enterprise Authority. 

The MP also implored the residents to take advantage of the upcoming supplementary voter registration exercise scheduled for May 20 to 31, adding that this time around tents would be erected at the polling stations. 

MP Pule also informed the residents that the implementation of Modipane-Ntswanalatheku road project was underway and would be implemented through the Developer Manager Model by a South African company that would be working with locals. 

He said a contractor for the project had been awarded and that the same person would also be engaged to perform some work for Mmathubudukwane and Modipane Clinic renovation. MP Pule also informed the residents that school sporting activities had been resuscitated following a dry spell that lasted for years. In that regard, he encouraged parents to allow learners to participate in such activities because sports were an important component of education and a major contributor to a child’s social development. ends