Works minister officiates tarring of Motshane-Sigangeni Road

EKUPHELENI – Residents of Kupheleni under Motshane Inkhundla were over the moon yesterday as Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe cut the ribbon to officiate the tarring of the much-awaited Motshane-Sigangeni Road.

This comes as a relief to the residents who have been using the currently gravel road which is 6.5km long – since time immemorial.

The E29.7 million government-initiated project comes as a relief to the community as residents had been using the badly-damaged gravel road.

Performances

The minister was in the company of his Principal Secretary, Thulani Mkhaliphi during the event that was spiced by thrilling performances by pupils of Londunduma High School.

The event was held at Kupheleni Pre-School, where the pupils showcased several acts in the form of ummiso and sibhaca (Eswatini traditional dances) as well as choral music.

Out of appreciation, the minister presented the school with a sum of E2 000, which would be channeled towards social projects, according

Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe. to the School Head teacher, Futhi Ngcobo.

Meanwhile, Motshane Member of Parliament Robert Magongo pledged a sum of E1 000 to the school.

As per dictates of the biblical verse, ‘blesseth is thy hand that giveth’, the minister was also presented with a chicken nest by the Inkhundla council. Also to be presented with a chicken nest was the area’s Bucopho (constituency Councillor), Jabu Nkambule.

Motshane Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Magongo singing before he delivered his speech.

Meanwhile, Indvuna Yenkhundla of Kupheleni, Ligel Shongwe, praised government, who through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, ensured the success of this much-awaited project.

Benefit

He said the tarring of the road would benefit the area multiple-fold.

He said it would ease the travelling of schoolchildren to and from school, among other things. “Once the road has been tarred, the ben

Londunduma High School Head teacher Futhi Ngcobo praying during the closing of the ceremony.

efitting schools will be Makhwane Primary, New Hebron Primary and Londunduma High School,” Shongwe said. “During the rainy season, children were unable to reach their schools.”

Director of Roots Construction, the company that won the tender to tar the road, Reuben Fanny Msibi, said they would start tarring the road on August 8.

He said they anticipated to complete the project within a month’s period.

He stated that even though they had not engaged in a major road projects in the countryside before he assured residents of Kupheleni that they had done roads in the country’s major towns. He lamented that his team had observed that a number of people had dragged their fence very close to the road and appealed to Kupheleni Royal Kraal to ensure that those families move their fences so that they could do a good job. Msibi said even though rains were a blessing to farmers, continual rains may compromise their target timelines.

Commence

He said the project will commence on August 8 until March next year if things go smoothly. In response, Prince Ndlovula of Kupheleni Royal Kraal, said the headman of the area should ensure that the fence was removed from the earmarked areas so that the work could be finished on time. Motshane MP, Robert Magongo said for many years people, whenever contesting elections, promise the electorate roads.

He expressed hope that the project will enhance his prospects. In jest, he said Siphocosini MP, should be grateful that the inkhundla was split into two, if it was not so, Matsebula would not win since he (Magongo) was a people’s person.