10 Mar 2016

Village Development Committees (VDC) had been urged to be more innovative by coming up with initiatives that can add value to the lives of the people.

Officially opening the Mogoditshane/Thamaga Sub-district VDC conference in Mogoditshane, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ms Botlogile Tshireletso cited examples where VDCs in other areas have stepped up and went an extra mile to empower community members.

She recalled a project where VDC members saved P100 from the wages of an underprivileged person employed in Ipelegeng and used the savings to build her a house.

She said this demonstrated the spirit of compassion and caring towards community members in their different localities thereby restoring their dignity.

“Again another VDC has facilitated the process of establishing a tuckshop for an underprivileged Ipelegeng worker by using savings from her wages to buy stock for her tuckshop. These are welcome initiatives that government appreciates,” she said.

On the intentions of the workshop, Ms Tshireletso explained that the country has adopted a ‘bottom up’ approach of decision making hence the establishment of VDCs through a presidential directive calling for the organisation of communities structurally at a local level for improved service delivery.

She said it is in this view that Mogoditshane/Thamaga Sub District has organised the workshop to address issues of service delivery within VDCs.

The conference, she said will allow committees to share experiences and ideas on how they can improve their performances. Also, with regard to effective management of community assets, committees will be introduced to maintaining community assets such as houses and halls, prudent use of money collected from rentals as well as working hand in hand with other stakeholders.

She further highlighted that VDCs in the sub district dwell more on Ipelegeng and paid less attention to voluntary projects such as buildings houses for the needy adding that the conference will therefore sensitise committees in reference to their functions and roles as specified in the VDC guidelines of 2001 and the new VDC regulations of 2014.

Principal Social and Community Development Officer Ms Queen Rakanyane explained that the conference’s objectives sought to empower committees to come up with annual plans which will be reviewed on an annual basis.

The three day conference attracted various VDCs from Mogoditshane/Thamaga Sub District. Ends