29 Mar 2016

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans van der Westhuizen, says his ministry is operating four communal farms whose occupants are beneficiaries of livestock provided by government.  

He stated in Parliament, on Thursday, that the farms at Grootlaagte, Chobokwane, West Hanahai and Inalegolo had a total of 1 798 cattle and 205 goats.

He said another four communal farms at Hima Ranch, Khwee, Malatswai and Swakara were at various stages of development. 

Mr van der Westhuizen said in addition to the assistance provided by his ministry, there were a number of other government assistance programmes being implemented in various settlements by other ministries.

“These include programmes like LIMID which to date has given out a cumulative total of 1 068 goats across all settlements, the Youth Development Fund under the ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, with a cumulative total of 304 projects funded in the settlements and a total of 2 710 people have also benefitted under the Poverty Eradication Programme,” the assistant minister said.   

Furthermore, he said his ministry had an annual budget provision of P1 million that had so far funded a total of 60 small projects. 

He was responding to a question by Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga, who had asked whether the ministry would consider assisting Batswana who lived in settlements with economic empowerment programmes such as cattle and goat rearing to uplift their lives. Ends