By News SA Correspondent:
The building of a R16-million state-of-the-art public library is supposed to bring smiles and celebration to any local community that is yearning for education, but for the people of the rural Praktiseer outside the mining town of Burgersfort in Limpopo, it’s a shame – it has taken long to finish and is still not fully done, years later.
Initially planned to be constructed within eight months, it has taken at least four years to be completed, but still it is 95% complete – some work to be done, perhaps some more money to be spent due to cost escalation associated with inflation. Although the structure is shown to be completed in the draft April IDP Budget for the 2024/2025 financial year, it’s standing unfinished. At least R15million of the municipal infrastructure grant earmarked for the project has been spent already.
In June 2022, the Fetakgomo local municipality executive mayor, Eddie Maila, visited the library while still under construction to monitor the building progress. He urged locals to work together to ensure the project is completed. He promised the work was expected to be done by June 2023. But it was never to happen and three years later, it stands incomplete and not functioning as anticipated.
Many see a potential white elephant – one of the government projects that never saw the light of day.
Reacting to the delayed library completion, many residents have expressed disappointment about a good project that is not going anywhere despite standing with promise. They do not understand why it was not completed by now, particularly that the project was paid for with municipal infrastructure grant (MIG), funds that should be ring-fenced specifically for the project.
Among those concerned was 72-year-old retired University of Limpopo professor and Praktiseer resident, Mpho Matthias Moraba, who said: “We are deeply disappointed about the lack of service delivery and development in our community. The municipality has no interest in the future of our children and this library is a typical example of that. “How do we progress as people in deep rural areas if access to basic facilities like a library is taking so long? Why has it taken so long to be completed? A public library is required to attain higher standards of education,” Prof Moraba said.
“Our matriculants do not always perform well at school during final year exams. Why? They struggle with English and Mathematics and the lack of libraries only makes their learning challenges worse.” Prof Moraba explained.
Moraba demanded that appropriate steps be taken to make sure the library is completed. He also said if unlawful deeds took place with the construction, then those liable would be charged and must face the full might of the law.
“Who will hold those in power accountable? They don’t have the educational interests of our children at heart. It’s been years since we’ve been hoping to get a proper library here. Libraries are key centres of education – in communities they should exist and also offer access to the internet,” Moraba said.
The need for the internet is so urgent now that many students from poor backgrounds must travel to town in order to access proper library facilities. Their families use their social grants to pay for their learners’ internet access. “The situation is dire. Let this library be finished soon, it is the constitutional right of our children for its doors to open,” Moraba said.A
Nation That Reads Is a Nation That Grows
Echoing the professor’s sentiment is a community leader, Headman Mamogale, who emphasised the importance of education and reading by children. “A nation that reads is a nation that grows. Libraries are a must. They also help keep young people off the streets. Libraries lay a foundation upon which a society can function and progress. We need to have public facilities to inspire, give hope and drive achievements of the people,” Mamogale said.
Praktiseer, despite being a college town and administrative centre since apartheid days, had never had a community library. The only proper library in the area is the one on campus at Dr CN Phatudi Further Education and Training College. The new state-of-the-art library was widely anticipated because it was expected to be equipped with advanced technological facilities that would facilitate education and develop the new generation towards achieving a growing nation.- @NewsSA_Online
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