EMLM Mayor highlights progress during SOMA
Kgobokwane
The Mayor of Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality (EMLM), Cllr David Tladi, has delivered his State of the Municipality Address (SOMA), held on Friday 26 July 2024 at Kgobokwane City Sports Ground in Moutse.
During his speech, Tladi addressed that the local municipality has achieved several noteworthy milestones throughout the 2022/2023 AND 2023/2024 financial years with the completion of Dipakapakeng access road, Motetema internal streets and Nyakurwana access road.
“The Uitspanning A access road project is on 97% completion and the contractor is busy with remedial works and V-drains. Upgrading of Tafelkop stadium access road project is also on 97% completion and the contractor is busy with remedial works and V-drains. SANRAL construction for strengthening of ARMCO Culverts on the R574 Road, Tafelkop RnR Bridge, is expected to be completed on 5th of October 2024,” explained Tadi.
The mayor indicated that in the current financial year, the municipality has outlined intentions to construct the following roads; upgrading of Malaeneng a Ntwane access road and storm water control project which is at 56% completion, upgrading of Maraganeng internal access road, upgrading of Mokumong access road to Maratheng taxi rank, construction and refurbishment of Groblersdal existing landfill site, upgrading and refurbishment of Tafelkop sports stadium and upgrading of kgobokwane-Kgaphamadi access road and storm water control.
Tladi said the municipality has allocated over R20 Million for the upgrade in the four identified streets of Motetema, Ramogwerane to Vlakfointein and Groblersdal.
“The project will include pothole patching, surfacing with asphalt and fixing of the damaged speed humps. The intention is to restore the streets to make driving safer and more efficient, thereby encouraging economic growth,” he said.
In terms of electricity provision, the mayor said the municipality is authorized to supply electricity to three wards, namely ward 13, ward 14, and ward 30 corresponding to the Groblersdal, Masakaneng, and Roossenekal areas, respectively, while the remaining 28 wards fall under Eskom’s jurisdiction.
Tladi acknowledged that the municipality has a 4% backlog, with 2382 households currently without electricity.
“Of the total number of households, 56415, representing 95%, have access to electricity, which includes households serviced by both Eskom and EMLM,” stated Tladi.
He added that the municipality was allocated R17 million for the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) and utilized these funds to electrify villages including Masakaneng Portion 69 with 400 households, Motetema High View consisting of 100 households, Kgapamadi/Phomola having 100 households, 50 households in Vlakfontein, 162 households in Makaepea and 100 households in Magukubjane.
Additionally, Tladi said in the current financial year, the local municipality is planning to electrify a number of villages including Phooko, Luckau Maganagobuswa, Magukubjanae, Mantrombi, Motetema High View, Oorlog, Lusaka Zaaiplaas Police Station and Doorom.
“In the current financial year, 29912 indigents have been successfully enrolled on the Indigent Register. Specifically, only 7493 indigents have been approved by Eskom to receive free basic electricity. It’s important to note that the municipality provides free basic electricity to both Eskom-licensed and municipal-licensed areas,” Tladi explained.
The mayor furthered hailed the government-private sector partnership, stating that since the opening of Tafelkop Mall, the private sector has played a significant role in giving investors’ confidence to engage in the municipality.
“This project presents enormous economic opportunities for both locals and businesspeople, notably in Tafelkop and the surrounding areas. Significant job prospects are also associated with this, during the construction period, over 2500 individuals and 100 contractors worked on the site, with 32% of the workforce being local citizens. 90% of the 420 retail employees are locals. This mall will also give locals the option to buy closer to home instead of incurring higher transportation costs to get to Groblersdal,” Tladi said.
Responding to the high unemployment rate, Tladi said the local municipality injected R1 Million in the appointment of 133 individuals through the EPWP and CWP programmes.
He also highlighted that the municipality has through the bursary programme successfully sent 100 students from low-income families to different South African higher education institutions throughout the first two years of this council’s present mandate.
“Our bursary programme continues to be a compelling narrative and serves as proof of the municipality reputation for providing access high-quality education,” he said.
Supporting the designate and vulnerable groups, Tladi said EMLM, together with Nedbank LTD, have provided a R30 000-00 aid to the Ba-Agisani Disability Centre in Tafelkop.
