17 Oct 2016

An official of the Department of Civil and National Registration, Mr David Ngwanaamotho, has implored Batswana to register their societies before they commence operations.

Speaking in a meeting addressed by Francistown East MP, Mr Buti Billy in Ntshe ward recently, Mr Ngwanaamotho said according to the Societies Act, all non-profit making societies should be registered with his office.

He said churches were fond of starting operations before registering with the office.

Mr Ngwanaamotho stated that it was illegal for some unregistered youth organisations to source donations and sponsorship from the public.

On other issues, he urged residents to register their newly born children and to ensure consistency in the use of names in birth and school registration.

He said it was illegal to register children at school using the names that were different from those in the birth certificate. 

He further said once a child was born, the father’s name should reflect in the certificate regardless of whether the parents were married or not.He explained that where the father’s name was not indicated at birth and the mother wanted to include it at later stage that could only be done in the presence of the father, but at birth the father did not need to be present for his name to be included.

Monarch Customary Court president, Kgosi Gunny Moses said residents of Ntshe ward were reluctant to attend kgotla meetings and were also not supporting the PTAs.Selolwe junior secondary PTA committee deputy chairperson, Mr Boikanyo Bateng shared sentiments with Kgosi Moses that parents were failing to be part of their children’s education.

He said some failed to attend school meetings and as a result, the school had a lot of uncollected academic reports.

Mr Bateng called for construction of a pedestrian bridge across Ntshe River, adding that due to the lack of such, students used a long route and in the process some became victims of rape.

Mr Billy explained to the residents that though they were in the Francistown East constituency, they fell under the jurisdiction of Monarch kgotla, which was in Francistown West,  therefore some of their matters would be attended there hence the need to attend when called.

He also told the residents that one of the bills that were passed during the winter session of parliament was the Whistle Blowing Bill that sought to protect both the informant and the one receiving the information amongst other issues.ENDS