17 Dec 2015

Gaborone City Council is owed P161,291,215.59 as arrears for the rates, according to the mayor, Mr Kagiso Thutlwe.

Opening the full council meeting recently, Mr Thutlwe said the council had collected P46, 085, 694.34 since the beginning of the financial year up to November 23. 

He stated that a total of P32, 391, 066.56 was collected in house while P9, 955, 170.56 and P3, 739, 457.22 were collected through FNBB and Barclays respectively.  

Regarding the employment creation, Mayor Thutlwe said since the beginning of the financial year, they managed to create 462 jobs. 

He said the jobs included 378 casual labourers, 25 permanent and pensionable employees, 16 temporary employees, 29 interns, 12 students on attachment and two Tirelo Setshaba participants.

He further stated that in the next financial year, they would continue to create more employment opportunities through various programmes. 

“It must be said that the council should envision creating not only jobs, but sustainable, dignified, permanent and pensionable jobs” he said, adding that the council had a social responsibility to protect the workers through sustainable job creation that would transform the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.  

On other issues, Mayor Thutlwe also said they were working around the clock to outsource some of the undeveloped open spaces for recreational facilities.

He said the facilities would go a long way in benefiting the community and special groups such as the youth as they would get an opportunity to establish economic and social activities on the spaces.

He further stated that they were working with Debswana and Kgalagadi Breweries to develop two more parks at Gaborone West Phase 2 (Bowasetso Park) and Extension 20 respectively. 

He said the Bowasetso Park project had commenced while Extension 20 Park was expected to start early next year. Mayor Thutlwe aappreciated the council’s achievements, but said a lot of hard work still lied ahead. Ends