03 Aug 2014

The assistant minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso says her ministry through Gaborone City Council has consciously and deliberately increased the Ipelegeng employment quota for Gaborone South Constituency.


Answering a question in Parliament, she said having noted that the constituency, more especially Old Naledi has a large pool of people who need assistance from Ipelegeng while other constituencies within the Gaborone District notably Gaborone North and Central are not able to meet the quota at all times.


She said it was against this background that some beneficiaries from Old Naledi were assigned to do litter picking around Glen Valley in Gaborone North Constituency including within proximity of the ponds and not to clean the sewerage ponds.


Ms Tshireletso said Ipelegeng beneficiaries in the Gaborone District are provided with dust masks, surgical and industrial gloves for their safety and protection in the daily operation of the programme.


She further said cleaning of sewerage ponds has never had to be done as part of Ipelegeng programme, and as such there has never been a need to consider separate pay structure for such services as WUC adequately does the cleaning of ponds without the need for assistance by Ipelegeng crews.


Ms Tshireletso was responding to a question asked by asked by Gaborone South Member of Parliament, Kagiso Molatlhegi who had wanted to know whether she was aware that only Ipelegeng workers from Gaborone South Constituency are assigned to clean the Glen Valley Sewerage ponds in Gaborone.


Mr Molatlhegi also wanted to know whether she was aware that, despite the health risk involved, the workers are not given protective clothing, and will she consider paying them a higher rate for working in sewerage ponds away from duty station, and when should the workers expect their plight to be addressed. ENDS