POLOKWANE – The Mankweng traditional council is set to benefit from a R25m budget allocated towards the refurbishment and construction of 10 traditional leadership offices across some districts of Limpopo, including Vhembe.
This information is documented in the 2023 budget vote tabled by Basikopo Makamu, the MEC for Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, who said three only need refurbishing while seven, including the Mamabolo traditional council, will receive newly constructed offices in the 2023/24 financial year due to the current dilapidated state of their office buildings.
Members of the department visited the offices that were reportedly built in the 1940s for on-site and soil assessments, and promised to return in June with a contractor who will hit the ground running until June 2024.
This is according to queen mother, Dr Mmamosa Mamabolo, who spoke to Bonus on behalf of her son, Kgoshi Nkoshilo, the leader of the Mamabolo traditional council.
“Our offices were last refurbished a long time ago. We are the last cohort to benefit from this programme while others have been benefitting for years. The ceilings are on the brink of collapse, but we are confident that by this time next year, construction will be at 95% compete at least.”
The department has also in this financial year prioritised the purchase of furniture for 20 traditional councils across the province.
In the 2022/23 financial year, it procured furniture for 27 traditional councils at a cost of R4.3m.
By March 31, delivery to 23 traditional councils had been done, with that of the remaining four was delivered in April, according to Makamu.
He further tabled a budget to procure 200 vehicles between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
“The procurement of 100 vehicles for senior traditional leaders on a budget of R55m is reserved for the 2023/24 financial year. Another 100 will be procured in the 2024/25 with a budget of R55m.”
The Mamabolo queen mother said they appreciated the support, as the work to assist government to run villages requires a form of convenience, which traditional councils previously funded from their own pockets.
