01 Jul 2024

Kgatleng District Council has made strides in the implementation of Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) projects.

Addressing a full council meeting recently, Kgatleng District Council chairperson, Mr Daniel Molokwe said they had made significant progress in the construction of the new Primary school at Oodi, with both the teachers’ houses and academic facilities nearing completion.

Additionally, Mr Molokwe said various maintenance projects, including classroom blocks and water-borne toilet conversions, were progressing according to schedule.

He said the construction of classroom blocks at Tlhaakgame Primary School as well as conversion of pit latrines to water borne toilets at Lady Mitchison and Kgafela Primary schools were also progressing well and on schedule and to be completed on July 18.

The council chaiperson said  maintenance of Bogatsu and Pilane Primary schools had been awarded at P2.2 million and P2.3 million respectively.

He said maintenance of Bogatsu Primary School project entailed connection of nine toilet blocks at Segale Primary School to the nearby sewer reticulation network.

Moreover, he said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development had funded the district at an amount of P4.3 million through TNDP II and funds would be used to construct three classrooms at Rasesa Primary School and two classrooms at Matsieng Primary School.

“The award of this tender is expected to be done during August,” he said.

On other issues, he said the Local Economic Empowerment (LEA) continued to register and assist Chema Chema applicants.

He said by June 7, LEA had received 3 928 registrants out of which 1 202 had been trained, adding outreach efforts had been conducted in various villages, while training was ongoing to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge.

Council also learnt that the 2023/24 ploughing season under the facilitation of Temo Letlotlo arable programme had commenced with 3 768 farmers registered under the Crop Management System (CMS) in the district and about 2 672 farmers registered under micro-scale farmers and qualified for government grant while 1 159 registered as non-micro scale farmers.

Mr Molokwe further said out of the 1 159 farmers, only 493 managed to plough.

“The low number of farmers is an indicator of food shortage at household level.

The programme has a slow uptake which might have been contributed to erratic rainfall during the current ploughing season and reluctance of non-micro scale farmers to take insured seasonal loans,” he said.

Furthermore, he said, the district received and had approved 40 applications of tractor and implements and 13 applicants had already paid 50 per cent of the total cost, while 47 applications were received under fencing component with 22 having been approved. ENDS