06 Dec 2016

Press Secretary to the President, Mr Gobe Pitso, has described Mantshwabisi Village Extension Team (VET) as a living reflection of the Setswana culture that encourages compassion.

The house constructed by the VET in Mantshwabisi in the Letlhakeng Sub-district was handed over to the Mothisa family on Friday (December 2).
 

Officiating at the event, Mr Pitso said the house marked 675 houses completed under the President’s Housing Appeal since the initiative came into place in 2008 while 38 more were still under construction.

“The first house under the appeal was constructed in Molepolole in 2010, and Kweneng can consider itself lucky because we are unveiling yet another house on the area,” he said.

Mr Pitso also said Office of the President appreciated  stakeholders who ensured the success of the project and appealed to the beneficiaries to take care of the house.

Giving background of the project, one of the VET members, Ms Banoseng Motoane said they mooted the idea and started the project way back in 2013 after realising the dire situation that the Mothisa family lived under.

She said the family is headed by a pensioner who has five children and 10 grandchildren, and that all stayed in a single and dilapidated hut. She said the responsibilities on her were therefore enormous.

“The proceeds towards the construction of the house were mainly contributions from the VET members, and Good Samaritans also assisted here and there including with some construction material,” she said.

For his part, the area Member of Parliament, Mr Liakat Kablay also hailed the VET for its effort, and indicated that such a project is the first of its kind to be constructed by VET in the whole constituency.

He said this was humbling looking at the fact that the civil servants found it fit to assist despite their financial challenges as they have not seen any salary increment from government in a long time.

“Money is something that is hard to come by, and the VET should be appreciated for having found it fit to share the little they have with this family,” he said.

Mr Kablay also assured civil servants of the continued support of the political leadership in their future projects and advised them that good deeds never end and therefore they should continue to assist in other ways in future.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Dikabelo Tsiang of Mantshwabisi said his village is a needy village and therefore called on more assistance to other deserving residents.

The house was constructed at the sum of P28 500, excluding other materials donated by individuals. The Base Commandeer for Thebephatshwa Airbase, Colonel Collen Maruping also pledged to connect a standpipe for the family. ENDS