24 Jan 2016

The reluctance of civil servants to work in rural areas hampers service delivery and the implementation of government programmes in the Letlhakeng Sub-district.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Botlhapatlou, the sub council chairperson for Letlhakeng Sub-district, councillor Tlotlo Batlhophi said the matter cuts across all professions such as nursing, teaching and social and community development. He said the most affected areas were small villages as well as remote areas such as Diphuduhudu and Botlhapatlou.

Councillor Batlhophi informed residents that the challenge of lack of a social and community development officer was not only confined to their village, and that the issue has been reported to the district headquarters and the ministry.

He also informed residents that the sub district was also grappling with a shortage of trucks which hampers projects under the Ipelegeng programme when materials need to be delivered.

He said that was the reason the projects take longer than the scheduled period to be completed. He also advised the Village Development Committee (VDC) to communicate their complaints in writing as proof for future reference. On other issues, Cllr Batlhophi advised residents to desist from holding at ransom councillors who do not assist at funerals, saying such assistance was offered out of botho and was not a requirement for a councillor.

The VDC chairperson, Mr Keimetswe Keokopile had complained that ever since the area social and community development officer left due to ill health she has not been replaced.

He said this has affected programmes that depend on the office such as the village bricklaying project which has since collapsed. 

Mr Keokopile said they were now forced to seek assistance from an officer at the nearby village of Malwelwe. He also said such projects were dependent on council trucks for delivery of materials. Ends