The road to nowhere

The Moretele local municipality in North West has spent more than R4-million building a road that does not exist.

According to council records, R4.7-million was spent on building Khubamelo Road, in Mmakaunyane. But instead of a tar road there is only a dirt track on which cattle graze and which is in such a bad state that cars can no longer use it.

This is the same municipality that voted to pay R50000 towards the funeral costs of every current and former councillor, traditional leaders and citizens who have contributed "extraordinarily" to the community.

According to council documents, construction of Khubamelo Road began in March 2012 and was expected to be completed within six months.

In June of that year, the mayor, Sello Lehare, said construction of the road was "in progress".

Lehare claimed in his 2013-2014 budget vote speech in May last year that construction of the road was 70% complete.

According to an insider, the council paid more than R3.5-million to a contractor but terminated the contract in December 2013 for non-performance.

"Another contractor was appointed but refused to take up the contract because the municipality had offered to pay only R950 000," the insider said.

The Times has learned that Moretele has received R8-million from Bojanala district municipality for the tarring of the road.

"What is happening here is a joke," said community leader William Mavundla. "The money has gone but there is no road. Now they have received more funds for the same road."

But the wasteful expenditure appears to extend to other areas, with millions being paid for projects that have not materialised, including:

• R12-million paid in 2006 for 112 mast lights in eight villages. The contractor dug the holes then disappeared with the money;
• R1-million paid to a consultant in 2006 to design a community hall in Mogogela. Eight years later the hall has not been built;
• Also in 2006, R268000 was approved for two taxi ranks that were never built;
• R3.5-million was approved in 2006 for the construction of a bridge - which has yet to be built;
• A R2.7-million sports facility in Mmakaunyane was completed in 2007 but has not been used and has been vandalised.

Municipal spokesman Mothupe Malebye did not respond to questions sent on Friday.

"I am battling to get answers from relevant officials," he said yesterday.