31 Mar 2014

The Japanese government through Botswana Embassy in Japan has donated two fire engines to the Southern District Council.

Speaking during the full council meeting, council chairperson, Mr Leach Tlhomelang said shipping and clearance fees for the engines would cost P317 000.

Mr Tlhomelang said they were in consultations with Jwaneng Town Council to train about four employees once the process of identifying them had been finalised.

He said shipping was expected to take two months, adding that the district had been allocated funds to acquire two more fire engines and a project memorandum was being raised to secure funding for the same.

On the district call centre, Mr Tlhomelang said the centre was operational and the call centre number continued to be publicised on different print media quarterly. He said the council had since come up with an initiative to brand some of its vehicles with the toll free number in order to further enhance its visibility.

Councillors were informed that the heavy rains had left gravel roads in a bad state, hence the need for maintenance. He said more staff houses would be constructed through Ipelegeng programme to address the shortage of accommodation for extension staff. BOPA