17 Jun 2014

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has funded the construction of eight houses for the destitute people in Kgatleng District.

Giving a report to the District Development Committee (DDC) in Mochudi on June 16, Ms Annah Monthe from the social and community development (S&CD) office said three of the houses were in Mochudi, two in Kgomodiatshaba while one was in Dikgonnye.

“Two houses have been completed at Leshibitse and Mmathubudukwane,” said Ms Monthe. She added that Jamhuri Botswana was also constructing a house in Morwa.

She noted that Sir Seretse Khama Airport Police also constructed a house for one beneficiary in Dikgonnye. The house was handed over to the beneficiary in March. She said other donated houses that had been handed over were at Malolwane and Modipane.

As for poverty eradication projects, Ms Monthe told the committee that the district was allocated over P3 million in December 2013 and had already spent over P1 million.

Furthermore, she said beneficiaries had been trained in different trades such as laundry, bakery, fashion design and catering. She said there were 20 operational projects, adding that 46 people from Kgatleng East and 17 from Kgatleng West were enrolled in the projects.

The principal economic planner, Mr Valentine Neo said the total number of beneficiaries enrolled in various poverty eradication projects in the district was 569. He said 306 were registered for alternative package while 263 were being assisted by other departments such as animal production and forestry and range resources.

Mr Neo said although the projects were operating well, beneficiaries were facing challenges such as shortage of operational space and resistance to working in groups.

He said they have engaged the village development committees (VDC) to support poverty eradication clients with accommodation space in some of the unutilised community structures.

Dr Solomon Tegegne from the District Health Management Team (DHMT) said healthcare waste has been a challenge in the district.  He said healthcare waste has been outsourced in 20 health facilities and 118 home based care clients. He said they have engaged two companies to collect refuse.

He said refuse collection has not been satisfactory in areas serviced by the council as the department was operating with two compactor trucks. He said they have engaged donkey carts in nine villages to overcome the challenges they were facing in refuse collection. ENDS