31 Mar 2014

A motion by Kanye North legislator, Mr Kentse Rammidi calling for government to increase the Village Development Committee (VDC) and Ward Development Committee (WDC) allowances has been deferred.

Mr Rammidi tabled the motion in Parliament two weeks ago. It wanted the allowances to be an equivalent of the minimum amount paid to Ipelegeng supervisors per month.

Moving a motion for adjournment, the MP for Mahalapye East and also the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said government had already decided on the matter and all allowances of various committees would be increased soon.

Her superior, Minister Peter Siele had earlier on said a decision to increase such allowances had already been made. The minister said continuing with the motion and adopting it might also interfere with the budget process and will also touch on issues of labour if the allowances were turned into salaries for the members of the committees as some MPs had suggested.

Earlier on, the MP for Ngwaketse West, Mr Mephato Reatile supported the motion and said increasing the committees’ allowances would be a motivating factor as the volunteers were doing a commendable job.

He said in his constituency, the committees argued that they should not be paid allowances only for their scheduled meetings, but any other such as preparations for kgotla meetings and other events.

Lobatse MP, Mr Nehemiah Modubule noted that people who usually work so hard for the development of the country were often under-remunerated.

He said the committees’ work is paramount in development of villages and urban centres, arguing that the allowance should be turned into salaries to afford the volunteers to have severance benefits at the end of their two year period serving in the committees.

South East South MP, Mr Odirile Motlhale also supported the motion, noting that the committees take care of public assets and they should be even given the custody rights of sand harvesting to raise funds in areas such as those in his constituency.

Mr Motlhale said times have changed to be still using the model of volunteers with sitting allowances, adding that nowadays with the assets the committees handle and money coming into their coffers, it is best to better remunerate them to avoid temptation.

Kgalagadi North MP, Mr Phillip Khwae also supported the motion and said the committees have a great responsibility and are audited whenever their term of office comes to an end.

He noted that other committees and boards of parastatals get better sitting allowances compared to the VDCs and WDCs.

Mr Khwae said the increment was also relevant more so that nowadays it attracts retired people from the public and private sector with various experience and qualifications.

Meanwhile, the mover of the motion, Mr Rammidi said he agreed with the deferment until and after the Minister announces the percentage increase of the allowances. Ends