By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
13 February 2025- The North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Roads said it has noted with dismay the challenges regarding completion of various road construction projects, in particular Taung. This comes after the committee conducted oversight visits to assess the upgrading and special maintenance of road D120 from Modimong to Taung, as well as the upgrading of gravel to surface road D201 from Pampierstad to Mokgareng through Mocweding to Mokassa villages.
According to the Chairperson of Portfolio Committee, Paul Sebegoe, these startling revelations were uncovered during the oversight week programme that the North West Provincial Legislature is currently embarking on in all sub-districts of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District. Sebegoe said the objective of the oversight visit is to strengthen oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government.
“The committee noted that the contractor (Lilithalethu Trading 41 cc) was appointed in November 2024, to upgrade and provide special maintenance of the D120 road, but has not commenced with road works due to financial constraints.
“The contractor is due to start the 14.7 km roadworks in May 2025. We proceeded to visit D201 road, from Pampierstad to Mokgareng through Mocweding to Mokassa, which is a 60km phase where several challenges were found. The road is approximately 80km south of Vryburg and approximately 15km south-west of Taung Station, which connects Mokassa village with Mocweding, Tlapeng and Pampierstad, situated in the Northern Cape,” he said.
Sebegoe further said they noted that road works were delayed as the project started in March 2022, and was supposed to be completed in September 2023. He added that the project did not get completed due to financial constraints, poor performance and community unrest.
“The North West Department of Public Works and Roads, informed the committee that due to poor performance of the contractor, penalties for failure to deliver the project on time were invoked.
“The contractor has currently solicited a competent subcontractor to deliver the project,” said Sebegoe.
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