By OBAKENG MAJE
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has lambasted the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari for donating 20 animal-drawn carts worth R780 000 to Dibono and Manawa villages outside Mahikeng just in the face of poverty.
Last week, Lehari donated donkey carts to some residents and said these villagers use this mode of transport to clinics, shops, and learners who are traveling about 20km to school in Masutlhe village.
“Our government remains committed to touching the lives of citizens and focus on the rural areas of the province. This mode of transport has been used for years back.
“It is a very reliable mode of transport when you take good care of these donkeys. Please, feed them and maintain the carts too. These 20 animal-drawn carts were locally manufactured and created a number of jobs for the local communities,” he said.
Lehari further said, the appointed service provider, LKT Business Enterprises has transferred skills to two local residents, who will maintain and repair the carts for three years with the expense of being paid by the department, through the service provider.
The 2 seaters cost the department R32 500 each, while the 4 seater is R45 500 each.
The DA’s spokesperson on Community Safety and Transport Management in North West, Freddy Sonakile said they are appalled by this decision.
“Instead of developing roads and transport infrastructure, building clinics and schools within reach of the community, the provincial government donates donkey carts.
“Lehari unashamedly arrived at the villages with his convoy of blue light German luxury vehicles to donate donkey carts to beneficiaries within the community to use as a mode of transport to clinics, shops, and a school, which is 20 kilometres away in a neighbouring village,” Sonakile said.
He added that this is an indictment on the government. Sonakile said learners of Dibono and Manawana are expected to travel in donkey carts over a gruelling distance of 20 kilometres twice a day, sometimes in adverse weather conditions, yet this department is also responsible for managing the scholar transport system in the province.
“Lehari has demonstrated yet again that the provincial government does not have a plan to address socio-economic injustices rural communities continue to endure, but would much rather keep rural villages primitive.
“We will submit questions to Lehari to explain the total number of carts to be procured over three years, the total financial cost of the contract, whether a feasibility study was conducted, and how the beneficiaries were identified and selected,” said Sonakile.
He said they will also ask the department what it will do to ensure adequate scholar transport for the learners of both Dibono and Manawana villages.
The Guardian 