03 Aug 2016

Parliament has been informed that the Orphanage Centre in Letlhakane was constructed with the intended purpose of assisting orphans and vulnerable children in provision of psychological support.

Responding to a parliamentary question, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said the orphanage centre was donated by Debswana in 2005 and was constructed at a cost of P323 145 00.

“The centre was not established as a residential home or place of safety as there are no children housed there. 

The numbers of beneficiaries therefore fluctuates as the nature of the intervention is dependent on a frequency of counselling services,” said Ms Tshireletso.

She said Debswana donated the centre as a hall, but in 2010 Boteti Sub-district found the need to partition part of the hall to provide office space for two social workers based at the centre.

She added that the other part of the hall which was meant for provision of group counselling was temporarily being used as a council chamber due to lack of space at rural administration centre offices.

Furthermore, Ms Tshireletso said despite the use as a temporary council chamber, the activities meant for the children were still ongoing as scheduled sub-council meetings which are convened on quarterly basis do not disturb the services provided by the centre.

Boteti East MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked if the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development was aware of any orphanage centre constructed or donated by Debswana in Letlhakane and if so, when it was donated and how much it cost.

The MP had also wanted to know if it was true that the centre was not used for its intended purposes.ENDS