The Kgalagadi sands bricks production could have taken off a long time ago had the Office of President not thumbed its nose into the project. This was revealed at the ongoing Public Accounts Committee.
While the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology wanted the research product to operate commercially on a long term basis, the OP on the other hand regards the project as a poverty eradication initiative.
Appearing before PAC meeting last Friday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology Dikagiso Mokotedi revealed that the standoff between the offices is a hindrance to the commencement of the project. A Blending Plant for the Kgalagadi sands bricks has already been designated for Palapye while 10 other depots have been identified across the country.
“We will be holding a meeting with the office next week to convince them about the project and certainly there will be progress over the issue. The OP has expressed interest with the project under the Poverty Eradication Project,” Mokotedi said.
“We indicated the Project is a short term thing under the Poverty Eradication drive. We are looking forward to a long term project, a fully-fledged commercial enterprise,” he added.
The Accounting Officer was responding to questions from Bonnington South Member of Parliament Ndaba Gaolathe who expressed concern about the delay in the project despite having been conceptualised a long time ago.
Once operational, the Kgalagadi sands bricks project is expected to create employment in the Kgalagadi and Gantsi Districts. The coal fly ash mix is anticipated to be extracted from Morupule Power Station to produce the final brick product.
