Community group marches over 'bogus' projects

THE VALSPAN Communal Interest Group embarked on a peaceful march to call for an end to alleged ghost and bogus projects that are being used to “milk” the finances of Phokwane Municipality.

- SANDI KWON HOO

It was alleged that there was a “web of maladministration” where funds were diverted and officials were awarding tenders to their associates in order to enrich themselves.

March convener Elliot Sebuzo said a failed R200,000 toilet project at the Jan Kempdorp graveyard produced a half-built structure without any ablution facilities.

“A well-known contractor from Pampierstad, who was awarded a R1.7 million tender to upgrade the sewage plant in Felu, in Jan Kempdorp, was paid to remove sewage blockages. Equipment and resources needed to do the job were apparently supplied by Phokwane Municipality,” Sebuzo said.

He believed the Ganspan bulk water pump that was supposed to be refurbished was fitted with an old pipeline.

“The community has been struggling with a consistent water supply since November 2025. Cwaile Street in Valspan location, which is supposed to be a main access road to the primary school and commuters, is still a gravel road and has fallen into disrepair after a dispute arose during a tender process.”

The memorandum pointed to a R500,000 gratification that was allegedly paid to a senior official. It urged that steps should be taken against a director whom they believed was responsible for a number of their grievances at the municipality.

Sebuzo said there were unauthorised deviations on capital infrastructure and technical projects in Pampierstad, Ganspan, Hartswater and Jan Kempdorp.

“No action was taken to prevent irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure. Impoverished residents from Jan Kempdorp, Andalusia Park, Guldenskat and Valspan had their electricity cut. Residents only received 50 percent of the value of the electricity tokens purchased,” he said.

He added that Guldenskat communities were being billed for nonexistent services and complained that the communal JoJo tank was not maintained, with mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water pools.