24 Mar 2015

The Southern district council chairperson, Mr Mephato Reatile has praised the ipelegeng programme for closing the maintenance gap in the district.

Mr Reatile said through the programme, the district council managed to undertake both major and minor maintenances in most government institutions.

Speaking during the full council session in Kanye on March 23, Mr Reatile said, “the district is currently implementing a total of 461 projects with a budget of P56, 221, 056. So far, 432 ongoing projects were expected to be completed by end of April and the remaining 29 projects during the first quarter of 2015/16, and the increased number of beneficiaries is attributed to increased project implementation in the district,’’ he said.

Concerning destitute housing programme, Mr Reatile said construction of 35 destitute houses for 2013/14 in the district had progressed generally well. He said 21 houses at Mabutsane sub-district, four at Kanye and four at Moshupa and they had been handed to beneficiaries, while six houses at Good Hope sub-district had been delayed but anticipated that all would be completed by end of June 2015.

However, councilors were informed that Youth Development Fund (YDF) funded 115 youth projects valued at over P11 million, and beneficiaries were still mobilising resources to commence operation. About the Botswana National Service Program, Mr Reatile said a total of 1160 youth had enrolled with the program as at of end of February 2015. 

He said effective March 1, 2015 participants started working half day from 7.30 am to 12.45. The arrangement, he added was made to give them an opportunity to use the afternoons to look for permanent employment.

‘’It is worth noting that our youth have demonstrated a lot of interest in the program. We have recorded 209 youth farmers in Barolong, 33 in Ngwaketse North, 101 in Ngwaketse Central, 135 in Ngwaketse South, and 373 in Ngwaketse West,” he said.

The chairperson also appreciated Batswana for conducting fair and peaceful general elections. He appealed to councilors to work together cooperatively and put aside political affiliations.
 ENDS