By Libuseng Nyaka
QWAQWA – Maluti-a-Phofung executive mayor Gilbert Mokotso has revealed that the municipality will partner with private companies to implement several projects in a bid to stimulate the economy and generate employment.
Mokotso said this while tabling his budget of R2 billion for the 2022/23 financial year, which is 22 percent less than the 2021/22 February adjustment. The reduction is due to non-cash items because of the collection strategies in place.
“There is a shopping mall opposite the new taxi rank in Setsing at a cost of R265 million. The design is completed and building plans have been submitted for approval. Bluegumbosch Lifestyle Centre at a cost of R350 million. This project is still in its planning phase and the process of rezoning is progressing well.”
From construction of the mall, Mokotso said, 400 jobs will be created and 40 big stores national wide will be renting including a petrol station. More jobs will also be created during upgrading of Setsing CBD by Nthoese Development at a cost of R180 million. This will create over 1000 permanent job opportunities and is projected to last for 16 months.
“The sod-turning was done on 4 May 2022 and soon the construction will start. Good news is that all these plans include hawkers . Another major project is the Mega City which is an urban networking plan and integration zone development which will be beneficial to the three towns of Harrismith, Kestell and Phuthaditjhaba. The project is estimated to R17 billion when complete. The designs are on planning stage, and we are currently busy with focus areas and the process of acquiring of land parcels.
“An Incubation Hub which will be in Phuthaditjhaba is still in its planning phase. This hub will create self-employment, develop sustainable enterprises, and develop innovative solutions for efficient and effective service delivery and skills development and capacitation.”
Mokotso credited some of the successes to Municipal Manager Futhuli Mothamaha who has been working hard to secure funds for the delivery of much needed infrastructure and for the improvement and upgrades to existing infrastructure.
“One of the outcomes of his efforts is that we have successfully applied for the neighbourhood development Partnership Grant (NDPG) which is administered by the National Treasury. we have submitted a Work Plan to National Treasury which has been approved and gives us the green light to now package the much-needed infrastructure projects into a realistic Programme.
“The programme will be spread throughout Maluti-A-Phofung and we will ensure that the NDPG projects criteria is always observed to ensure continuous support from National Treasury. The projects to be implemented will cover infrastructure with respect to roads, water and sanitation, electricity, and much needed community amenities.”
He said the injection of capital infrastructure will also unlock private sector investment as the feasibility of investments will be enhanced. The upgrading of Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) in Tshiame, which will focus on the upgrading of bulk services within the SEZ. Inspection on the site was done by the Development Bank of SA (DBSA), Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC) and MAP SEZ to determine the project solution.
