Work in progress for Sekhukhune district offices’ relocation

SEKHUKHUNE – The team of the relocation of Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) offices held a resounding engagement with the Pedi Mamone Traditional leadership on recently.

The long awaited relocation of SDM offices and its departmental district offices from Groblersdal and Lebowakgomo respectively to Jane Furse in Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality is experiencing enhancements.

Limpopo Premier, Chupu Mathabatha has since appointed the high level team led by MEC Masemola of public works, roads and infrastructure with Treasury MEC, Sekwati and CoGHSTA’s Makamu in the province to fast track the preparation of the district’s offices from Capricorn.

The inter-Departmental Team on the relocation of Sekhukhune district offices from Capricorn, convened by MEC Masemola on Monday, 30 August 2021, met with the Royal House of Pedi Mamone to thrash out and expedite matters relating to the land required for the project, which land has since been earmarked.

Key to the progress being made is that the royal House has agreed to provide the required land for government  to begin with the necessary work.

Going forward, meetings will be held with the leadership of the community and other such important stakeholders on the matter.

Earleir, a meeting was held between MEC Masemola, the local municipality mayor and the traditional authority in Mamone was to continue government’s plans on the relocation of SDM offices from Lebowakgomo within the Capricorn District to Jane Furse in Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality.

The department then reiterated its submission to the Pedi Mamone Traditional Authority to release the land earmarked for the relocation of Sekhukhune district offices.

The move is expected to see about 10 district departments and other key sector departments moving to Jane Furse.

The meeting then initiated the going ahead with the first phase which will includes the planning and design involving the Jane Furse Township development and the construction of the offices.

MEC Masemola at the time, said the developmental decision would result in the R579 road, between Lebowakgomo and Jane Furse, becoming the prime economic space.

Masemola said that the road would be gold and that thousands of local communities among them, young people, would be employed.

The MEC also estimated about 3000 workers who would be relocating from Lebowakgomo offices to Jane Furse to serve the people of the district in their own locality.

The Public Works department said it has plans to have a public-private partnership agreement with the traditional authority on behalf of the local community and that government would eventually have to own the space of land.

During his SoDA at Leboeng Village outside Burgersfort within the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality, SDM Executive Mayor Stanley Ramaila announced 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.

Ramaila 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 at the time.