25 Mar 2014

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso says her ministry does not have an affirmative strategy of ensuring that people living with disabilities benefit from Local Economic Development (LED).

She, however, said they were using existing social welfare policies and guidelines meant to assist vulnerable or disadvantaged populations. Ms Tshireletso said the poverty eradication guidelines also identified people with disabilities as target beneficiaries of the programme.

Since poverty eradication programme started during the 2011/12 financial year, a total of 172 people with disabilities had been assisted with packages at a total cost of over P3 million.

The assistant minister was responding to a question from Shoshong, MP Philip Makgalemele who asked if there was any affirmative strategy of ensuring that people living with disabilities benefit from LED. Ends