24 Feb 2013

Parliament has been told that a total of 1 888 people benefitted from the Affirmative Action Programme in the Tonota constituency in the financial years 2011/12 and 2012/13.

Responding to a question from the MP for Tonota North, Mr Fidelis Molao, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said during 2011/12,   961 people benefitted while 927 benefitted in 2012/13.

She said during the  2011/12 financial year, 696 people benefitted under the educational support for primary, secondary and tertiary education; seven under youth empowerment schemes; 52 under training poverty eradication programmes; 180 under cluster policing and 30 under the Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) projects, livestock and housing.

As for the financial year 2012/13, Ms Tshireletso said 718 people benefitted  under the educational support for primary, secondary and tertiary education; three under youth empowerment schemes, seven under training on poverty eradication programmes; 180 under cluster policing and 19 under the RADP projects and housing.

Ms Tshireletso further explained that in an effort to ensure that more people from Tonota North benefitted from this programme in sustainable ventures, the ministry had deployed community development officers based at Mabesekwa.

She explained that the officers were there to address any issues related to RADP Affirmative Action and provide necessary support to the community.

She said the Affirmative Action Programme was rolled out through community mobilisation and sensitisation using different strategies such as kgotla meetings, dipitso, workshops, taking services closer to the people and one on one contact with the RADP officers.

MP Molao had asked the minister to state the number of people who benefitted from the Affirmative Action Programme in the Tonota North constituency in various sectors other than Ipelegeng since the programme started and what plans were in place to ensure that more people benefitted from this programme in sustainable ventures. The legislator had also wanted the minister to explain how the programme was being rolled out. ENDS