16 Oct 2016

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ms Botlogile Tshireletso says ideally, buildings and related infrastructure should be maintained through a cyclic maintenance period of five years.
She however said due to budgetary constraints, her ministry had experienced a backlog of maintenance projects of Tribal Administration offices and staff houses.
That notwithstanding, Ms Tshireletso said the Department of Tribal Administration has since maintained eight offices and 15 staff houses during 2013/14 and two staff houses during 2014/15. She said during the current year (2016/17) maintenance was on-going at various districts.
Kgosi David Toto of Kgalagadi South had asked the minister to explain how long it takes to maintain Tribal Administration offices as buildings further deteriorate due to lack of maintenance.
Answering another question, Ms Tshireletso said she was aware of lack of security in most customary courts. She however said due to budgetary constraints and zero manpower growth, her office has not been able to create positions of Night-watchmen for customary courts.
“This will be done in a phased manner subject to availability of the requisite budget,” she said.
Kgosi Toto had asked the minister if he would consider employing night watchmen for all the customary courts.
In another question, Kgosi Peter Chika III of Chobe region had asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development if he is aware that there were some Court Clerks who have worked for years in the same station without being transferred and if so how he intends to address the situation.
Answering the question, Ms Tshireletso said she was aware that some Court Clerks have worked for years in the same stations across the 16 districts which have a total establishment of 2523 employees under Tribal Administration.
She said transfers are addressed on continuous basis, noting however that transfer process was slow due to the necessary consultations which needed to be followed before such transfers were effected.ENDS