14 Jul 2014

Failure to work together by Village Development Committee (VDC) and Village Extension Team (VET) compromises service delivery.

The observation was made by Mahalapye Sub-district deputy district commissioner, Mr Bakuedi Masole during joint kgotla meetings at Kudumatse and Mokoswane addressed by council, district administration, land board and department of youth on July 10.

Mr Masole said there were unfortunate situations where VDC and VET could not harmoniously work together and as such compromised service delivery. 

He said VDC was mandated with coordination of village development while on the other hand VET was to insure that public servants serve the community diligently and without fail.

He said service delivery will be provided to the satisfactory of the community if the two committees work together. 

VDC and VET must be at the forefront and coordinate development projects, policies and programmes aimed at empowering and uplifting livelihoods of the community, he said.

However, Mr Masole assured the community of the two villages that he has trust that public officers will work hard to insure that there are well catered for. 

He said public officers must be well informed of programmes and policies on place so that they can fully inform and empower the community.

Senior Assistant Council Secretary, Mr Motlogelwa Thuso also appealed to the community to utilise government programmes in place to uplift their livelihoods and set up business that will help diversify the community.

He said programmes such as Ipelegeng are aimed at improving livelihoods by creating short term employment and develop the community. 

He however raised a concern that the programme is taken for granted as the majority of those engaged are not fully committed and as such exhaust funds before completing projects.

He said there are cases where those engaged are reported to be spending most of their time busking in the sun and only to dispatch after having a snack without even touching what they have been assigned to do.

Mr Thuso therefore urged VDC, VET and village leadership to fully coordinate projects while on other hand appealing to the community to work hard as such projects are undertaken for their benefit.

He added that it is unfortunate to see VDC failing to work hand in hand with the community due to political interference. 

There are clear guidelines used to run a VDC, so it will be disastrous to see politics taking centre stage, he said.

As for poverty eradication projects, Mr Thuso urged beneficiaries to fully utilise the entrepreneurial skills they have been empowered with to engage in sustainable and profitable projects.

He said there are unfortunate cases where such projects due to negligence by beneficiaries and lack of market for the produced goods and services. 

He said such projects are aimed at fighting poverty and creating employment adding that beneficiaries must be committed and desist from treating such businesses as part time activities.

Mr Thuso said to ensure sustainability of the projects government has taken a decision to fully assess those willing to be assisted through poverty eradication programme to ensure their capability to run such projects. 

They must display sense of love and commitment towards such projects, he said.

He urged the beneficiaries to fully serve the community with their goods and services. 

He said there are cases where schools are supplied with bread and uniforms from outside even though there are beneficiaries operating bakeries and tailor shops within such localities.

Mahalapye sub council chairman, Mr Moatshe Senai also cautioned public servants to desist from kick starting projects without first consulting with dikgosi. 

He said as a custodian of the community, the village leader must be made aware of any activity taking place within his area of jurisdiction.

Mr Senai said failing to follow such procedure will make the community suffer as projects will be delayed. 

He said the role of leadership bestowed upon Kgosi and VDC must never be overlooked in the development structure and information dissemination process. ENDS