New bus rank in Mahalapye set for a different plot
Residents of Mahalpye will have to wait a bit longer before they can enjoy a faultless bus rank at a different location as it was discovered that where the current infrastructure sits, there was high moisture content beneath, causing the damage that happens to the rank even after corrective measures were undertaken.
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Talita Monnakgotla revealed on Tuesday that the contractors who built the current bus rank have now come out to claim they were not responsible for the recurring damage, which caused government to spend P3 215 025.31 on the resultant remedial works.
However, after those remedial works were done and the bus rank was opened, structural failure occurred again. It was after this development that the contractor brought in a Geotechnical Consultant to assess the cause of this structural failure, whereupon it was discovered that the structural failure was caused by high moisture content due to a shallow water table that sits at 1.8m, resulting in high plasticity.
Monnakgotla revealed that the Mahalapye Council is now considering building a new bus rank in a different location, and the council will consider using the current current bus rank for light duty and short distance taxi and minibuses only.
The space adjacent the bus rank will be marked properly to be used for long distance buses for dropping and picking passengers only, Monnakgotla revealed, adding that this move will also reduce congestion.
She noted that there has never been a determination to charge any officer to date with the problem that has occurred in Mahalapye bus rank because the initial geotechnical investigations did not detect anything that may result in structural failure.
“An Expression of Interest to construct and operate the new Mahalapye Bus Rank under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model was floated and has been awarded to Estate Properties,” Monnakgotla said.
Moreover, preparations and negotiations for contract signing are at advanced stage and the contractor will be handed the site before end of this financial year. The contractor has committed to have completed the project within
24 months.
However, Member of Parliament for Mahalapye West, David Tshere noted that Mahalapye business owners, public transportation drivers and other SMME’s deserve more action from the responsible ministry.
He blames an escalation of deaths on the digging of pits at the bus rank since last year as some people fell into them and died. The pits are said to have been dug when the government was inspecting the land.