17 Aug 2016

 Letlhakane abattoir is back in business, thanks to the Lundin Foundation, Karowe Mine, and Boteti sub-district council.

At the official opening of the new look facility, Boteti Sub-district Council chairman, Mr Solomon Cornelius recalled how in 2012, Lundin Foundation, through Boteti Mining, voiced their interest to transform the slaughter house from a small scale capacity into a medium one.

Mr Cornelius said at the time, the foundation had pledged P7 million, while the council contributed P3.5 million to raise the P10.5 million that was needed for the project.

Now equipped with highly sophisticated equipment that enhance production, the facility became a blessing to the district because it now had the capacity to slaughter about 100 cattle and 30 goats or sheep daily, Mr Cornelius said.

Established in 2001 as a small scale slaughter house through the drought relief programme, the facility used to slaughter only about 15 cattle and 10 goats and sheep per day.

Mr Cornelius said the old slaughter house was too small to cater for the entire sub-district, and, considering that the waste water facility was also not functioning well; the need for upgrading was inevitable.

Also, the facility did not meet the required hygiene standards that led to constant confrontations with law enforcers and corresponding inconvenience to farmers, he said.

For his part, Kgosi Baruntshi Kegapetswe of Letlhakane applauded the Karowe Mine for the great contribution they made towards development of the Boteti community. ENDS