02 Jun 2016

 Joyful Centre a non profit making organisation in Mathathane that focuses on underprivileged children and women has pleaded for the allocation of operating plot from the Bobonong Sub Land Board.
 

The plea was made by the centre’s director of accounts Ms Priscah Makgwathana on May 31 during the Bobirwa Sub-council session that their application for a piece of land was rejected by the land board.

Ms Makgwathana expressed concern that although they identified a piece of land in Mathathane, suitable for constructing the structure for the centre their application was rejected on the basis that all business and civic plots were advertised for.
 

She told councillors the centre was renting a Village Development Committee house and to a larger extends lack of space affects their operations.
The centre was initially formed in 2013 as a Christmas football tournament but has since been registered as a society to empower underprivileged youth and women.

Ms Makgwathana said the centre has identified 150 students that required assistance, but has adopted one pupil at Mathathane who they assist with a monthly grocery, toiletry and school fees.
Another daunting challenge she mentioned was shortage of finances and appealed to councillors to extend a helping hand.

Meantime, district HIV coordinator Mr Kabo Kgwaraga said it was disheartening that some civil societies  in Bobirwa had collapsed while others had relocated to urban areas due to lack of funds.
Mr Kgwaraga said some had relocated due to lack of support from the leadership because for an organisation to grow, it needed support from leadership.

He said in instances where such organisations were in need of finances they required referencing from the area leadership for their applications to be successful.

However, councillor for Mmadinare South Mr Moses Seeletso said  although organisations such as Joyful Centre were important in empowering youth and women, they should  be gender equality as some men also needed to be empowered.

Mr Seeletso appreciated the centre’s mandate but scepticisms were caused by financial embezzlement and maladministration that led to some societies collapsing.
Councillor for Mabumahibidu Mr Gabaitse Mathengwane applauded the centre saying as politicians sometimes they rally behind people eligible to vote and left behind children that required assistance.

Councillor for Lepokole/Borotsi Ms Philly Segabo applauded Mathathane village for being a good performer in many aspects through the leadership of their councillor Mr Mootlana Tshebedi.
The centre she said would address compelling issues such as  substance and drug abuse among youth and called for the council to plead with the landboard to allocate land for the centre. Ends