By OBAKENGNMAJE
Most of the residents of Manawana and Dibono village near Mahikeng who benefitted from the donkey carts project worth R780 000 from the North West Community Safety and Transport Management department are left dejected.
This comes after some of the newly-donated donkey carts broke down just two days after receiving them. It is alleged that the 2-seater donkey cart cost R32 500 each, while 4 seater is R45 500 each.
One of the beneficiaries, Mokete Mokoloko (38) said, he nearly died after his donkey cart broke its underslung axle. Mokoloko said he was ferrying pupils to school in Masutlhe village when the accident happened.
“We urge the government to design proper donkey carts of a high standard. I am so disappointed about what happened, but by the grace of God, no one sustained injuries. These donkey carts are defective and of sub-standard quality. They are not even ergonomic and suited for terrains.
“Most of them have fallen apart because they are defective. I ferry pupils from our village to the nearby school, but I have since reverted back to my old donkey cart because it is much stronger than the one donated by the government,” he said.
Another resident, Marriam Mokgobenyane shared the same sentiments. Mokgobenyane who questioned the criteria used to identify the beneficiaries lambasted the government and also accused it of taking people for granted.
“The North West Provincial Government (NWPG) takes us for granted. Instead of donating vehicles because they are more viable, they donate donkey carts of low quality.
“I also want to understand the criteria used to donate these donkey carts because most of the pensioners here have not received them. I am a pensioner, who stays with my mother and she is 99 of age. We are struggling with transport when we have to take her to the hospital or town,” she said.
Mokgobenyane further said, instead of the government building RDP houses and roads, it will rather waste money on sub-standard donkey carts. She added, they are struggling with inaccessible roads, especially during the rainy season.
It is also alleged that these donkey carts have been languishing in storage at Mahikeng Airport since 2014.
However, the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said: “All procurement processes were followed and the distribution of these animal-drawn carts is in line with the national Rural Transport Strategy. The carts were manufactured in Lonely Park in Mahikeng and locals were employed in the project.
“As part of the contract with the department, the service provider, LKT Business Enterprises will maintain and fix the carts for the next three years at no cost to the owners. The twenty carts were procured for a total of R 780 000 inclusive of the three-year maintenance plan.”
Meanwhile, the department said it will hold a media briefing, later on, to clarify the allegations that the procurement was non-existence. The owner of the alleged company, LKT Business Enterprises which was used for procurement, told the 24-hour TV News channel, Newzroom Afrika that, she knows nothing about the procurement of this project.
The Guardian 