Construction of new hotel school facilities commence

Thato Mogotsi of Botaki & Associates handing over construction sites to various contractors

Setting the tone during the construction sites hand over briefing session with all relevant parties involved, Head of North West Department of Tourism, Adv. Neo Sephoti emphasized to contractors that no shoddy work will be accepted and that the provincial government expects a quality infrastructure which will still be standing and in good condition for years to come.

“These are public funds and as a department and the people of this province, we will not compromise on quality. We will insist on regular quality checks because if anything does not meet the required quality standards it will impact on us as a government, not the contractors”, Sephoti said.

Local first

Sephoti also urged contractors to first consider using local labourers before employing people from outside the area. She said that the provincial government wants to improve the lives of people in rural towns through the socio-economic promotion of villages, townships and small "dorpies" (VSTD) whereby a certain expenditure of any project in the province must be spent in that particular village, township or small "dorpies".

“In order for this to be realized, we really need to urge you as contractors to use local labour and spend as much money as possible locally so that, through this project, you can assist us in ensuring that there is visible, viable and sustainable socio-economic impact in the area of Taung and its surrounding small rural dorpie of the North West Province”, she said.

Developing a world-class hotel school

Deputy rector of the institution, Herman Phetlhe said that he was excited that this project has finally started. He said that the project will see the Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre being transformed into a world-class academy with world class facilities which will enable the institution to cater for more students from anywhere in the world.

“I am overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation because this culminates provincial government’s intentions of making Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre one of the most sought-after hotel schools in the country with the best possible facilities. Upon completion, the new infrastructure which includes a new gate house, double storey student’s residences, ten lecture halls, two dining halls and two student’s demonstration kitchens. This will allow us to grow our market in recruiting more students and also help us in expanding our scope of theoretical and practical work. Students will also be able to enjoy a conducive learning environment which is what is needed to stimulate young minds”, Phetlhe said.