Work to construct the much awaited tarred road from Ganyesa to Tlakgameng, has begun in earnest guaranteeing on the flip side 150 job opportunities to rural community in the far western part of North West province.
Tlakgameng and the neighbouring villages of Phaposane, Gapayi and Khudukgwane, a few kilometres outside Vryburg where a flash point of protests last year sparked.
Villagers protested against the poor road condition fuelled further by an announcement by government that there were not sufficient funds to kick start the project last year.
The provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, today, Tuesday confirmed that the contractor appointed in November last year, was already onsite and that work has begun on the 38 kilometres stretch of gravel road.
The contract value to build a single carriage way road from Ganyesa, through Phaposane, Gapayi and Tlakagameng to Khudukgwane is more than R218.6 million.
The two year road project is expected to be completed by November next year (2012).
Spokesperson for the department, Matshube Mfoloe, said the entire work force, would be sourced from the villages stated above as part of the government objective to create job opportunities through labour intensive construction methods.
He said the road project was also the department’s contribution to rural development.
Mfoloe said approximately a four kilometres section of a route used by taxis on the northern side of Tlakgameng, would be constructed using labour intensive methods.
"If we can raise sufficient funds in the new financial year, it is our wish to add another six kilometres paving project on the same road using paving bricks manufactured at a local plant established in any of the villages above,’’ Mfoloe said.
While upbeat about the breakthrough with regards to the road construction works in Tlakgameng, Mfoloe said the department was "extremely disappointed’’ with the performance of the construction company, Kaulani Civils, on the Koster to Lichtenburg road.
“Our patience has definitely run out with Kaulani Civils, more so that they are behind schedule already. Nothing convinces us that this road project will be complete by end of June this year,’’ he said.
"Mfoloe confirmed that a letter has been written to Kaulani Civils on Friday, 4 March requesting “reasons why they should not be fired for poor performance’’.
He warned that action against Kaulani Civils may also include "penalties for delayed progress" on this road which he described as "very important" to the motoring public, farmers and companies doing business in the province.
Mfoloe confirmed that contract value for the Koster to Lichtenburg road was R208 million and to date the department has paid Kaulani Civils approximately R105 million for work they claimed to have done to date.
The road project began in February 2009.
Enquiries:
Matshube Mfoloe
Cell: 082 395 4594
