19 Jan 2017

Member of Parliament for Boteti East Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe has informed members of village development committees that its objective was to upgrade the village economy.

Mr Lelatisitswe said during a meeting with VDCs, councillors and parents teacher associations on Monday in Letlhakane. He stated that the mandate of VDC was to upgrade the living standard of local communities and enhance the village economy.

MP Lelatisitswe was dissatisfied with the rental fees charged by VDCs saying they were underpriced for Letlhakane as much as backlog of unpaid rental fees.

He advised the committee members to sign contracts with the tenants and take them to court if they fail to abide by the contract. He advised them to give tenants failing to pay 30 days notice to vacate.

Mr Lelatisitswe was responding to a report given by Letlhakane North VDC chairperson Ms Keanole Gabosutiwe who had complained that tenants staying in VDC houses failed to pay rentals, with some dating back to the period before they joined VDC.

Ms Gabosutiwe also noted that the other challenge was that some of the houses were electrified while others were not, with some dilapidated and roofs leaking hence underpricing, with one room being P70.

In addition she expressed concern that some people living with disability were hidden by their relatives at the cattleposts, noting they were not registered for government programmes.

Ms Gabosutiwe said at times they go through the neighbours to identify such people from other homesteads.

He requested a school for children living with disability in Boteti that could provide classes for under-aged children and skills development training for mature entry.

When commenting, councillor Aaron Baitsemang expressed displeasure that despite the fact that Letlhakane Primary Hospital facility was already too small, service provision also left much to be desired.

In addition councillor Baitsemang complained that poverty eradication applicants lose interest due to slow processing of the applications.

He said there were also some people who do not have identity cards majority of whom were  Basarwa, noting that this denied them opportunity to benefit from government programmes most importantly health programmes.

He indicated that age assessment committees took long to convene.

Councillor Boitumelo Khutsafalo expressed concern that companies were not employing locals, hired people from outside Letlhakane, and exploited them if hired.

Councillor Keiketile Gobotswang of Khwee complained that security companies failed to pay employees overtime, and get dismissed if they complain. He said they were also not paid on time.

Councillor Phankgi Resetse requested progress update on upgrading of Mokubilo settlement to a village. He also complained that Mokubilo clinic did not have a maternity wing.

In response MP Lelatisitswe said a new primary hospital was earmarked for Letlhakane to reduce congestion in schools, noting the project was budgeted for 2017.BOPA