30 Nov 2015

Individuals, relatives, families and youth can now benefit from the funding facility offered by the Department of Gender Affairs, senior gender officer Ms Gaolatheope Nkanokang told the Serowe Sub Council.

Briefing councillors on the new reforms, Ms Nkanokang said they previously funded a group of at least five members which was not allowed to have more than one member from the same nuclear family. The condition has now been revised with individuals, family members and relatives allowed to enjoy the program. Ms Nkanokang said many more youths are now allowed to access the funding.

She explained that beneficiaries should either be unemployed or have a monthly income of no more than P 500. She explained that a woman (sole owner of a business) can be funded up to P100 000 while group projects of two members can be funded up to P250 000. 

A group of three or more can be funded up to P300 000 while a community project can be funded up to P500 000. She said special consideration will be made for people with disability. She highlighted that the groups may include men. 

The number of men should however be less than that of women. Further, Ms Nkanokang said that they now fund service-oriented businesses. 

Although most councillors hailed the new reforms, councillor Setlalekgosi Molefhi was of the view that both men and women should have equal access to the program, a development which will resonate well with the name of the department, gender affairs. Ends