17 Feb 2016

Senior Private Secretary to the President, Brigadier George Tlhalerwa has commended donors who dig deep into their pockets to donate to the Presidential Housing Appeal.

He praised the donors during the handover ceremony of a house built for Ms Mmannini Kesekang through the Presidential Housing Appeal by businessman and philanthropist, Mr Satar Dada and his family in Lobatse on Tuesday.

Brigadier Tlhalerwa said donations that the Presidential Housing Appeal had received since its inception in 2010 was overwhelming and deserves recognition.

“The size of the gift is not what matters most, but rather the love and compassion behind the gift,” he said. He said the appeal has received various kinds of donations in cash, building materials and house furnishers and appreciated every gift that the appeal has received.

The donations, he said, were a big step in the right direction as they go a long way in bringing dignity to the lives of the recipients.

He commended the Dada family for heeding President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s call and especially Mr Satar Dada who chairs the Presidential Housing Appeal and has donated houses to citizens across the country.

He noted that Mr Dada did not only build houses, but also built clinics to improve the provision of health services.

He said the Presidential Housing Appeal has donated 556 houses, with 11 of the houses built in Lobatse while 61 were still under construction in various places across the country.

This, he said, has almost doubled the target that the board had set which was to donate 50 houses every year.

He said it was a sign that Batswana were willing to rise to the occasion and be party to the Presidential Housing Appeal.

Speaking on behalf of the Dada family, Ms Dada’s brother, Mr Yusuf Dada said the donation to the Kesekang family was done by Mr Dada in memory of his late wife, Ms Zainub Dada who passed away two years ago.

The Dada family donated P130 000 to the Presidential Housing Appeal which was used to build a house for the Kesekang family through the assistance of the Lobatse Town Council.

Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Advocate Sadique Kebonang said he was greatful that President Khama realised the dire need for people to have proper shelter, and starting up the Presidential Housing Appeal.

He said this was a good initiative that has given a lot of Botswana dignity and wished for its continuity even in the next government circle. Ends