Relocation of SDM offices underway
SEKHUKHUNE – The process of relocating SDM offices from Groblersdal to Jane Furse within Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality and the district offices of the provincial government departments from Capricorn district in Lebowakgomo is underway.
Stanley Ramaila, SDM Executive Mayor, announced that they have identified nine buildings around Jane Furse that are currently being inspected to ensure they are habitable to accommodate offices of the district municipality.
Executive Mayor Ramaila was speaking during the State of the District Address in Leboeng Village outside Burgersfort recently.
The Executive Mayor said they would make further pronouncements on the relocation of SDM offices during the IDP/Budget process in May.
“Furthermore, on the relocation of the district offices of the provincial government departments from Lebowakgomo to Jane Furse, efforts are underway to make this a reality. A piece of land in Jane Furse has been donated by Bapedi Ba Mamone Traditional Authority to the Department of Public Works to accommodate provincial government district offices from Lebowakgomo. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is yet to be signed by government and the royal house,” said Ramaila.
On Planning, Implementation and Research, the Executive Mayor said for proper forward planning and successful implementation of infrastructural projects, they required enough properly qualified personnel.
Ramaila said to attend to the urgent matter, as of July this year, they would hire key three registered engineers to capacitate their infrastructure and the water services department.
“As part of our practical interventions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, we have allocated R55.4 million which will see people in identified villages getting water as a matter of urgency. Even with this limited budget, we will make sure that the drilling of boreholes in 18 villages, scheduled to start by April, is completed by June, indicated Ramaila on water and projects.
On municipal finances, The Executive Mayor said to mitigate against the dire impact of COVID-19 on households and businesses last year council approved an eight percent decrease on water and sanitation tariffs.
“The arrangement remains in place until the end of June and council will relook into it, and make further pronouncement. We therefore encourage households and businesses who receive services from the district municipality and from all the four local municipalities to pay for these services,” said Ramaila.
He said that their concerted efforts to reposition the municipality as an epitome of clean governance were undermined by a criminal syndicate which had infiltrated their financial systems.
“A newly restructured Audit Committee has been appointed. With their many years of experience in local government and varied expertise , these men and women are doing a great job in assisting council to improve accountability and government matters,” added Ramaila as he spoke on corruption and governance.
On Gender Based-Violence Ramaila urged families to approach social services that are offered freely by government to assist when under the weight of the problems in their lives.
“After years of what appeared to be inaction, there is now movement toward implementing the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Special Economic Zone. The provincial government recently announced that it has set aside R35 million for SEZ,” said the Executive on SEZ.
