SELEBI-PHIKWE: Selebi–Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) head of Buildings Department Olebile Mafala said more than P12 million was spent in building teacher’s flats.
Speaking during the hand over ceremony of the flats by Giant Built Construction Company last Friday, Mafala said that the council has spent more than P12 million constructing 24 teachers houses.
He was positive that the project would ease accommodation shortage. “More than P12 million was spent in this project. We have built 24 houses that will be used by teachers,” he said. He said that SPTC had managed to carry out the project on budget within agreed timeframes.
“The project is a success because the building was done according to the specifications and no extra money was spent,” he said.
He said that the project was allocated P15 million but only P12 million was spent.
“This is one of the projects that the council managed to complete within budget and we believe that the remaining balance will be returned to the council coffers,” he said. Mafala also stated that the new teachers’ flats are different from other council projects as security companies have been engaged to take care of the buildings.
“Most structures that we had built before had no security considerations, this time we have security measures like security personnel and fire hydrants,” he said.
He also said that some of the quarters have been made user-friendly to the disabled.
“We have also built houses that will be used by the disabled. The houses are designed in a way that matches the needs of the disabled,” he said. He said as a way of helping the occupants to reduce spending money on electricity they have installed solar panels.
Mafala said that the council did not engage any professionals outside the council to help in the project.
“We did not outsource any professional services. We engaged professionals we have in the council. This we believe is an achievement because it helped us to finish the project well in time,” he said.
He added that sometimes involving consultants delays projects and costs more money.
He said that the new teachers’ flats are anticipated to address the problem of shortage of teachers’ accommodation.
He also lauded the cooperation they received from the contractor who finished the project within the given time, despite the challenges they faced.
“The council is pleased with the Giant Built Construction Company because they finished the project within the agreed period even though they had challenges as some surveys had not been done.
“When we started the project had not done topography survey and it became difficult to make designs.
“I am glad the ground is almost level and we are not anticipating any problems,” he said. Power COM Company also handed the council Mekoro streetlights.
Over P12 million was also used in the project, which was awarded to PowerCom last year in October and was scheduled for completion in June this year.
The project was however not finished within the stipulated time hence extended with a month.
About 624 lights were installed.
