By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Deputy Minister (DM) of the public works and infrastructure (DPWI), Bernice Swarts visited the Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) local municipality to assess projects that are nearing completion, such as the Kestell magistrate court.
Swarts along with the public works MEC Dibolelo Mance and the executive major of MAP Masetjhaba Lakaje-Mosia led an Imbizo that started with the removal of dumping sites in Phuthaditjaba, filling of potholes and a walkabout at the Kestell Magistrate court to see how far the construction is.
Addressing residents at the Kestell Community Hall, Swarts, said:
“Having met the contractors, sub-contractors and all the stakeholders involved in the construction of the Kestell Magistrate court, we have identified and ironed out the issues that have caused this project to take almost 24 months to be completed.
“We want to see the building of the magistrate court being completed on time in April 2024 so that the people of Kestell can access the services of the court without having to travel far to other areas,” Swarts said.
At the same occasion, Mance said that the DM is a very powerful woman who has a history and background in making sure that government money is used in the right way.
“Part of leading the people is also about respecting the people. The DM is a very qualified and skilled person who knows how to lay bricks, she knows how to paint as a qualified artisan.
“She is here to ensure the community of Kestell receives its 30 percent from the revenue received from the building of the magistrate court. She is here to make sure that everything is done properly and on time,” Mance said.
From left FS Public Works MEC Dibolelo Mance, Public Works deputy minister Bernice Swarts and Maluti -a- Phofung executive mayor Masetjhaba Lakaje-Mosia during Public Works imbizo.
A representative of the Free State office of the South African Women in Construction (SAWIC) Glorine Nyatshoba shed more light on their role in the inspection tour.
“We are in Kestell today accompanying the Deputy Minister to make sure that the building of the court is completed. We are here to make sure that our women are given opportunities in numbers and paid reasonable rates.
“As the DM has alluded, the magistrate court must be completed by April next year. We want to tick the boxes and make sure that this project finishes before then because as the Free State we are under pressure that none of our projects finish on time,” Nyatshoba told The Guard.
