Construction of a Thusong Services Centre begins in Sheepmoor
The centre will be a one-stop centre for services and information .
Construction of a Thusong Services Centre is set to begin in Sheepmoor.
The occasion was marked with a sod-turning ceremony in the town, attended by Msukaligwa Municipality leaders on Monday, 16 July.
The centre will be a one-stop centre for services and information and will not only provide government services and information, but it will also enable the communities to access opportunities offered by other civil society groups, such as businesses, NGOs and parastatals.
The centre has been identified by Vimtsire Pty Ltd in consultation with Msukaligwa Local Municipality, and the Sheepmoor-based one is just one of three centres in the region.
The Vimtsire company committed more than two years ago to ensure that working with communities will contribute towards the socio-economic development of the community, hence the funding of the construction of the Thusong Centre.
A representative of Vimtsire, Mr N. Thwala, said the project will create about 60 temporary job opportunities for the local community.
These workers will be utilised at various stages of the construction of the centre.
“We are also buying all the building materials from local suppliers in Msukaligwa and we are building it at no cost to the municipality,” Mr Thwala said.
The executive mayor of the municipality, Mr BJ Mkhaliphi, was in attendance, saying they are here to make the lives of people easier by bringing government services closer to them.
“The surrounding communities should find it easy to access government services and there should be no need to save money for taxi fares, but only to mark the calendar of which departments you will be visiting at the centre,” Mr Mkhapliphi said to the Sheepmoor community at large.
He thanked and pleaded with the community for being patient with government as the contractor begins construction of the building.
Mr Mkhaliphi appealed to other communities in and around the municipality to be patient as their time will come too.
“Do not think that this is for the municipality, this is for the community.
“The municipality will just manage it on your behalf but you, as the community, must safeguard and protect its property, including this centre,” Mr Mkhaliphi concluded.
