Praktiseer and Mphanama Libraries left incomplete and abandoned

PRAKTISEER/MPHANAMA

Two vital projects which were supposed to be implemented by the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) have stalled and are abandoned.

Locals in Praktiseer and neighbouring communities said they haven’t seen contractors at the Praktiseer Library site in recent months.

The project expenditure is at 100% and the estimated completion of the R16 million project was July 2023, however, the project is not yet finished and has seemingly been abandoned.

Locals said the structure looks far from completion, they said the draft April IDP/Budget for 2023/2024 indicated that the project was 80% complete, but in May 2026, there is still no functional library in Praktiseer.

“Meaning more than R12 million might have been spent on the project, which was supposed to have been finished already,” alleged the residents.

When the project to build a library was announced, community members, who described it as a beacon of hope and a valuable hub of information and education, were very pleased. Learners from the local schools had also been eagerly waiting for construction to be completed.


A Grade 12 pupil at one of the local schools, Katlego Makofane said they had great hopes for the library.

“The library would have been beneficial for us, especially since we come from diverse backgrounds and some of us face distractions and disturbances such as loud noises that prevent us from studying at home,” he said.

Locals in Praktiseer said the incomplete library project has sparked growing concerns in the community.

“No one is giving clear answers on what is happening on the project. The only thing we know about the project is that it is a poor workmanship, and not suitable to be occupied by human beings, particularly those with vested interests of learning and furthering their knowledge and educational background. We all know what a library is to society and the kind of people it attracts,” said a community member.

The Praktiseer Library project is not the only library abandoned by the FTLM, a similar project at Mphanama is also incomplete.

The Mphanama Library’s structure also remains unfinished, just like the Praktiseer Project, the contractor is nowhere to be seen.

 The Mphanama Library buildings are without roofing and the structure is now a kraal for goats and cattle in the village.

Community members in the village have once again pleaded with the FTLM to come complete their ‘bermuda’ (Half done) projects.

“We are being taken for granted by the FTLM, these unfinished projects are a waste of taxpayers’ money. It’s not only the libraries, several electrical projects and roads are incomplete”, said one resident from Mphanama.

In trying to find out the updates on these two library projects, this publication forwarded queries to the FTLM’s communications manager Mahlako Komane

 Amongst the questions posed was the completion date of the project as well as reasons behind the abandonment.
At the time of going to print, Komane was yet to respond. Sekhukhune Times will update readers when the FTLM responds