Jailing of council boss ‘kills off’ R2.2m project
THE detention of Sello Tsolo, a former municipal project manager, is believed to have led to the collapse of a R2.2-million community dairy project in Ficksburg, Free State.
Tsolo was the manager and chief executive of the Setsoto municipality’s Integrated Dairy Project which was launched six years ago to fight poverty by creating jobs and helping farmers in Ficksburg and surrounding areas.
The project would have been run from Deemster Farm, which is owned by the municipality.
Then Free State MEC for agriculture Mamiki Qabathe gave the project R2.2million start-up capital which mostly went to the development of a business plan and training of four staff members who also went on a tour of other similar projects in Germany in February 2011. What was supposed to be a beacon of hope for the rural community of Ficksburg turned into a major disappointment when the municipality terminated Tsolo’s contract while he was incarcerated in Dubai in 2013.
Tsolo had gone to Dubai to complete a R675-million investment deal for the project with an international businessman when he was arrested.
A former employee at the project said the municipality terminated the project.
“Tsolo’s arrest gave them an opportunity to act,” said the former employee.
Municipal spokeswoman Moroesi Gaba said the project was terminated because it was not the core business of the municipality.
“When the municipality terminated the project, the reason for Sello Tsolo’s employment fell off. The council also decided on the matter in 2013,” Gaba said.
Johannes Nhlapo, a dairy farmer, relocated his farm from Fouriesburg to Ficksburg when he heard about the project.
“I relocated 50km to be closer to the project. I expected to supply milk to the project,” Nhlapo said.
The project expected to create 12 000 jobs, the business plan had projected.