26 Jun 2024

The tender for detailed design  and construction of water reticulation project  from Ncojane well-fields  to Kgalagadi North was cancelled in June 2023.

 Responding to a question at Ntlo Ya  Dikgosi, Assistant Minster of Local Government  and Rural Development, Ms Talita Monnakgotla said the tender  was cancelled  due to disparities  and  material deviations  in the  issued  tender document.

She attributed the delay in re-tendering process to the insufficient budget to commence the project.

Ms Monnakgotla however, said the ministry had commenced re-tendering process for the project and the tender was at technical stage, with evaluation expected to be completed by August .

 She said it was anticipated that the project would be awarded in August and construction to commence by September.

Kgosi  Moeti  Monyamane of Kgalagadi  North  had  asked for  progress made  regarding water reticulation  project  from Ncojane  well-fields  to Kgalagadi  North and if there were any  alternative measures  put in place to curb  acute shortage  of water for human  consumption in the  area.

Responding to another question, Ms Monnakgotla  stated  that the Ministry  of Agriculture  was aware of old dams around the  country including the  Gakgatla  Dam.

“Small dams around the country are generally constructed based on design  period of 30  years,  thereby the dam is assessed for effectiveness  in harvesting and storing water,” she told the house.

 She said  the ministry’s  personnel  had carried out  inspection at Gakgatla Dam  and found out that surface  area  of  the  reservoir  was submerged by water therefore it was challenging  to quantify  silt  accumulation in the  reservoir.

The  assistant  minister further indicated that the second assessment  would be carried on this week,  which would determine the extent of rehabilitation  to  be carried at the  dam.

Kgosi Edison Gobuamang of Thamaga  had asked whether the  ministry would consider de-silting Gakgatla Dam  to  increase its storage  capacity. ENDS