Despite an administrator waiting in the wings to take over the running of the J.B. Marks municipality, there is still a good story to tell about the life-changing projects currently underway in Ikageng and Ventersdorp.
The Thoo family in Ext. 13 is welcoming a better life and excitedly told the Herald they would soon have electricity in their home.
A mother of four children, 39-year-old Ntsoaki Thoo moved into the undeveloped area in 2016 after staying in a backroom in Ikageng.
“I am happy about the electricity project because we use paraffin lamps to light up our two-roomed shack at the moment. I cook for my children on a gas stove. If I want to charge my phone, I have to ask my neighbours across the road. We thank the J.B. Marks municipality for changing our lives,” she said gratefully.
Photo: Selogile Leshage
1200 households set to receive electricity
In addition to the Thoo family, 1,199 other households will also receive power in their homes.
Abel Lamola of Omphile Electrical and Construction, who is in charge of this R19,9 million electrification project, says the real work started last month and should be completed by the end of August this year.
He says he has employed 25 locals and a local sub-contractor, who has also hired 26 local labourers.
Lamola says he is also electrifying 303 households in Rysmierbult, Ventersdorp. “The project is set to be completed by the end of June. The total cost of the project is R4,7 million,” he said.
Victor Boqo, the mayoral spokesperson, says there is a water reticulation project in the same area, which will cost R11,6 million. “The scope of work entails the reticulation, house connections and water meters. A site handover was done on 22 March 2019 and the construction commenced on 15 April,” he said.
Other service delivery projects
Boqo listed other service delivery projects like the Ikageng light industrial park. This development, which comes with a price tag of R28,1 million, will house mechanical workshops, hair salons, laundry shops, office spaces and parking space upon completion. “This construction will do away with the majority of our small businesses operating in backyards. Once completed, they can operate under one roof,” he said.
The community is waiting with bated breath for the construction of the R18,9 million disaster management centre in the J.B. Marks Municipality.
“This centre will enable the municipality to prevent or manage disasters effectively. We are the first municipality in the province to construct a world-class disaster management centre,” he said.
The Ikageng roads and storm water project in Ext. 7, which cost R14,3 million, is one project that has been received with mixed feelings. On a positive note, Boqo says the scope of work entails paving 3,1 km of streets with related storm water management systems. He says the physical progress is at 34 per cent. Once completed, some of the gravel roads in Ext. 7 will be upgraded to paved streets.
On the other hand, there has been a backlash from some of the residents who claim the contractor is absent most days, delaying the scope of work.
While on site, the journalist noticed water gushing from the burst pipes the residents had complained about in previous editions. Thousands of litres of clean water is wasted every time the contractor damages a water pipe. “We never had any maps of the underground pipes,” said an unnamed worker. He blamed the previous constructor for shoddy work in installing water pipes.
Photo: Selogile Leshage
In the Ventersdorp area, Boqo says the R5.3 million, 1,1 km Appeldraai internal road development is at phase 3. “The other major development in Ventersdorp is the Boikhutso village bulk water supply amounting to R13,4 million. The scope entails an elevated steel tank, water reticulation, upgrading two boreholes and house connections,” he said.
