Tsolamosese gets new roads
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday August 29, 2022 06:18
Thus, it became the biggest obstacle in bringing the developments in the area. For years, despite the growth of Tsolamosese, there is only one piece of tarred road that starts from the main A10 road junction by Tsabong traffic lights to Puma Filling station just by Gabane road.
Even though the area has grown tremendously, many people and other public transport operators have been driving on dusty and bumpy roads. Therefore, mornings and evenings have become unbearable for people living near the gravel roads that residents are currently using as they are always engulfed in a cloud of dust. However, this is about to come to an end as the chairperson of the Mogoditshane/Thamaga Sub-District, Duke Mafoko recently told Tsolamosese residents during kgotla meetings in the area that they would soon be getting tarred roads that cover most of those dusty gravel roads and beyond.
He added that the roads would not only bring developments in the area but will also reduce daily traffic and one of them would be commencing by the tuckshops famed as Ko-Dimausung crossing over to Block 9. “One of the roads will be connecting Tsolamosese and Block 9. People who commute to Game City mall will also be able to go there crossing by this area. They will no longer have to get stuck in traffic and drive all the way to the Gabane road. Those roads will be inclusive of storm water drainage that would resolve your water issues more especially during rainy days.
As I speak, our consultant is on the ground busy drawing the roads.
Hopefully, he will be done by December 2022 and we will be able to release a tender so that contractors can apply,” he said. He promised the residents that once a tender is given out, they would introduce the contractor to the residents. He added that they would encourage him or her to hire a number of Tsolamosese residents to work on the road. He explained that he was aware that just like everyone, many families in the area affected by COVID-19 were breadwinners and lost their jobs.
Mafoko also said the road development would relieve residents of financial hardships and assist them put food on their tables. He also urged residents to take advantage of that development and establish businesses like selling food to the contractors. He pointed out that they were previously given some money to build those roads but failed because of the squabbles between the Land Board and the squatters. For his part, Tsolamosese Block 4 councillor, Shaka Ditshuge announced that they had been working with Mafoko for the new-tarred roads in the area.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Transport and Public Works gave Mogoditshane P567million to be divided amongst different wards. He said the money was meant to pay for 25 kilometers road divided in the urban village. He, however, pointed out that his area was given a bigger share. Furthermore, he said they decided to choose that they will not spend a lot of money on compensating residents. He explained that if they were to cut people’s plots, they wanted to at least cut small portions that would not force them to relocate people. “We will in the next budget cover internal roads since the current budget is not able to cover all roads. However, in the meantime we will see if we can grade internal roads, as we are aware of sad situations you are going through.
We are happy that after the long fighting to get tarred roads, we will finally get it,” he said. Even though they were skeptical if the roads would be built or not because they had previously been made that promise, the residents applauded Mafoko and their councillors for the roads.
They said it would attract more developments and create jobs in the area. Another speaker, Disang Molatlhegi said even though he was happy about the roads, the council must consider a bridge that crosses to Boseja ward in Tsolamosese as it posed danger to residents’ lives. Samuel Khutsafalo pleaded for the road to create jobs for residents. He also expressed concern over illegal sand miners who are busy destroying the environment. According to Pule Kgaswane, storm water drainage would address the water situation where water floods people’s home making it hard to leave their homes during rainy seasons. He also called on the council to build taxi stops in the area to avoid putting passenger’s lives at risk.