Mmathubudukwane Police Station Wasn't A Priority
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday August 26, 2019 12:53
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) politicians said the then vice president and now President, Mokgweetsi Masisi imposed the police station on them while they had other pressing priorities.
“We just got back from opening an important police station in Mmathubudukwane. But if one looks at the way things are in Kgatleng, a hospital and Mabalane road should have been prioritised,” said Molebatsi.
“Our hospital should have been at least equipped better. When you go to the hospital at night you find only one doctor who has to deal with those giving birth, those involved in accidents and many other patients. They also have to examine corpses before they are taken to mortuaries.”
Molebatsi slammed the centralisation stating that Local Government used to be efficient. He argued councils should be given more powers and more money to be able to effectively drive developments.
“In Kgatleng we have not been getting developments for many years now. We have always wanted roads that would help Bakgatla in their daily lives. When Masisi first came to address us about ESP projects he said the road was top of the priorities, but to date there is no road,” he said.
“He also mentioned the Mmathubudukwane Police Station, which was not really our priority. It was imposed on us without prior consultation to get our priorities right. Masisi just told us what they would do.”
Morolong said the road was a serious call for concern, as Bakgatla are frustrated over the projects. He said another top priority was the storm water drainage. He said the project was long designed, but is yet to be done.
Morolong said they have also waited for a library for many years even though it has long been designed.
He also said sewerage ponds should have long been relocated, but to date nothing has been done.
“Another concern is of our very old Deborah Memorial Hospital. Land has long been availed for the relocation of the hospital to Rasesa. It was said it would be designed just like the Mahalapye hospital. There are so many challenges at the hospital and we need a new hospital urgently,” he said.
On August 2015, the then Mochudi East legislator, the late Isaac Davids asked in Parliament when “the long allocated plot” for Mmathubudukwane Police Station would be developed and when police officers at Sikwane would be provided with suitable accommodation.
The then Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Dikgang Makgalemele on behalf of Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, said the project to build Mmathubudukwane Police Station and 55 houses was amongst projects approved for implementation during the National Development Plan (NDP) 10 and had been resubmitted for consideration in NDP 11 with other projects.
He said the housing component of the Mmathubudukwane project was to also accommodate officers serving at the Sikwane Police Station.