NEDC Cllrs bemoan corrupt Ipelegeng tendering
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday May 21, 2014 11:19
During the full council meeting, the councillors expressed their worry over tendering of Ipelegeng projects, saying there have been complaints that the same people benefited all the time. Council chairperson City Kealotswe asked the coordinator, Victor Masunga to “quickly address the issue of tendering because it has been a worry amongst councillors for a long time. “Councillors have been complaining about the issue of tendering for years and I think it is time you addressed this issue. I think something might not be okay out there. Please consider addressing this issue, as there is no smoke without fire, “ Kealotswe said.
He said the tendering issue has been of concern amongst villagers during Kgotla meetings around the district.
“Our mandate is to serve the people of this district well without favouring anyone. We do not want to be known for favouritism, “ said Kealotswe.
The Ipelegeng coordinator was asked to own and take control of Ipelegeng, as it seemed as if the Village Development Committee (VDC) was corruptly influencing how it is managed.
The irate councillors argued and accused VDC of being big headed and using their political status to influence the working of the Ipelegeng programme.
Matshelagabedi councillor, Winnie Showa expressed worry about the all-powerful VDC saying they even decide who is to be hired and who is not to be hired.
“Please we are fed up with how VDC does things. It looks like you have given them the powers to control the hiring of Ipelegeng workers because residents have been complaining to us. “Ipelegeng is the main source of employment amongst villages and should be conducted accordingly to benefit all residents, “ she said.
Showa pleaded with the Ipelegeng boss to visit all the villages to hear the complaints from people over this programme because, though it is an initiative meant to empower and benefit all residents that is not the case. She said some members of the community who have benefited from other empowerment programmes are not allowed to work in Ipelegeng by VDC even though it takes time for them to start benefiting from the other programmes.
“Imagine you have been given 13 small stock under the LIMIT programme. Those goats will start benefiting you after two to three years and there is a certain time period you should take before selling them, “ she said.
Tati Siding councillor Ruth Dlodlo said most VDC members were campaigning in politics and were defeated and used that bitterness to favour people who were on their side.
Dlodlo said that VDC does not consult councillors before making decisions because of differences in political party affiliations, but in the end it is the residents who bear the brunt.
She said that some of the VDC members want their friends and family members to benefit all the time whilst some who need that job the most are struggling out there.
Others complained that the number of people hired for Ipelegeng in the villages is too low and should be increased. In response, Masunga agreed with councillors and promised to address them and visit the VDCs to monitor how things are done.
“We have been having a huge problem of shortage of transport for our officers to visit sites in order to monitor the projects, but I hope that very soon the situation will change for the better and we will be able to address these issues, “ said Masunga.