24 Jan 2016

Residents of Mmanoko and Gamodubu have complained that children who live at ploughing fields near the two villages walk a long distance to school. 

They said it has led to Mmanoko and Gamodubu primary schools to perform badly.

Residents said this during kgotla meetings addressed by  the MP for Molepolole South, Dr Tlamelo Mmatli on Thursday.

On average, they said children travel about 10 kilometres to and from school. 

The pupils, most of whom go to school on empty stomachs, arrive late and tired and as a result fall asleep during lessons, they said.

Residents also complained about the lack of proper roads. They complained that the access roads that branches from the A12 to their villages was in a bad condition hence they requested that when the Economic Stimulus Programme was implemented the government should consider to upgrade the two roads.

On other issues, residents also complained of water scarcity in their villages. 

In Mmanoko, they said the situation was so bad that they drank from the pond because the reservoir has a leakage and has not been attended to for a long time.

Residents also told their MP that Water Utilities Corporation has failed to connect water at their plots even though they have long paid for water connection. Although they have requested the corporation to give them tokens temporarily, WUC has not assisted them.

Therefore, residents have requested that they be provided with a water tank to supply the village as a temporary measure. Another solution they suggested was that the village borehole that has existed since 1986 has the capacity to supply the village and could be put to good use if equipped.

On the other hand, Gamodubu residents have also decried shortage of water in their village. They said the four water pipes that supply water get damaged frequently hence they were always in short supply of water.

The fact that they use the coupon system makes it worse because they do not have any other alternative of getting water.

In response to the issue of school going children who travel a long distance to school, Dr Mmatili said the ministry of education was piloting a project to transport children with donkey carts in remote areas.Nevertheless, he assured residents that he would take the matter up with the minister of education. 

He cautioned teachers not to use corporal punishment on children when they arrive late at school. Instead he said teachers should consult with parents of the concerned pupils while the authorities seek a solution to the challenge. Ends