13 Apr 2016

Balete deputy chief, Kgosi Tsimane has warned  Balete community to be aware of people who go around spreading untruths concerning Ga Malete Development Trust, that runs the Mogobane Irrigation Scheme.

Kgosi Tsimane said this during a kgotla meeting in Ramotswa . He said it is “demeaning to learn that some people in leadership positions are against a project that can benefit the community”.

“This project is not for any individual, it is for the whole community. It is embarrassing to realise that some leaders are speaking negatively about this project, they go around telling the media untruths about the project, he said.”

He continued to explain that the scheme got a P500 000 donation from a donor from United Kingdom in 2010 to start up a vegetable project.

He explained that the money was used to clear the plot which was in a bushy state at the time and to pay employees who did the job.

Kgosi Tsimane explained that during the course of time, Rural Development Council whose  chairperson was the former Vice President Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe, granted Ga Malete Development Trust P10 million to revive the irrigation scheme.

Kgosi said they started a vegetable project as a poverty eradication programme and creating jobs for the community.

He said people who are against the progression of the project are the ones who wanted to use it for their own advantage but not for the community at large.

“The Ga Malete Development Trust is for every Molete to benefit from, we should work together for the success of our project and now we have hired 17 employees,” he said.

During comments, members of the community applauded and appreciated the report by the Ga Malete Development Trust, citing it as a well done job that will reduce the high rate of unemployment. ENDS