BY REGINALD KANYANE

North provincial government did a sod-turning for the construction of a 13km road between Kopela village and Atamelang Township in Tswaing local municipality on Tuesday.

The road will be upgraded from gravel to tar road. The road infrastructure project is implemented as part of Village Development Plan (VDP) and is expected to create temporary jobs for locals.

North West premier Supra Mahumapelo warned Kopela community to refrain from burning government institutions. He urged them to use various techniques to address their concerns.

“Stop burning the road while you need a clinic. We urge you to work together with us in improving the livelihoods of many people. We know it is your democratic rights to embark on protests. However let bygones be bygones.

“What happened last year remain in the past. I spoke to MEC for education and sport development department, Sello Lehari to speed up the process of rebuilding the schools.

“I informed him that people were disgruntled when they torched the schools and a clinic. We will come back with a strategic plan on how we will re-build and upgrade those schools,” Mahumapelo said.

He added that people must take care of government institutions. Mahumapelo said people should learn from the past mistakes too.

“I also spoke to MEC for health, Dr Magome Masike to renovate the clinic too. However we plea to you, go and cast your vote on August 3. We will continue to work hard and improve the lives of our people,” Mahumapelo said.

Last year, Kopela residents burnt three schools and a clinic. They barred children from attending class from August as they demanded a road in their area.

The protest forced the education department to relocate matric pupils to safer areas in Vryburg where they had to write their final examinations.

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MEC for local government and human settlement department, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe has been appointed as an acting MEC for social development department.

North West provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said premier Supra Mahumapelo assigned Gaolaolwe as the acting MEC of social development department. He added that it was too early to decide who will be appointed as the new MEC.

“Mahumapelo has not decided yet who will fill the position of the late MEC Kgakgamatso Nkewu. However she appointed MEC Galaletsang Gaolaolwe to oversee the day-to-day duties at the department. We all know that Gaolaolwe has been there before she was moved to local government and human settlements department. So, the position is not foreign to her,” Setswambung said.

The late MEC for social development department, Kgakgamatso Nkewu died in a car accident two weeks ago. She was travelling with her bodyguards to attend elections trail at her hometown in Taung. Her car collided with a cyclist on N18 outside Vryburg.

The cyclist died on the scene and two bodyguards suffered minor injuries.

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