22 Jan 2017

Acting permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Col Duke Masilo has appreciated efforts of companies who made corporate social responsibility part of their mandate.

Speaking during the handover of donations to Mmabana Trust, destitute people, elderly and orphans on Thursday, Col Masilo said government alone could not afford to develop and implement social upliftment programmes hence support from the private sector being critical.

He said it was important for government to work in partnership with the private sector not only in the diversification of the economy, but also to drive social responsibility initiatives.

About 1340 beneficiaries received donations and he said this will bring positive change to the lives of Lerala, Majwaneng and Mogapinyana communities.

Pep Store, Ladies Circle and Yarona FM had collaborated in making the donation of blankets and clothes possible.

The blankets and clothes will be given to orphans, disabled, elderly people and destitute, whereas Mmabana Trust was also given clothes and blankets.

Other companies contributed towards the donations are Plentymake (pty) ltd, Debswana, Extra Save Supermarket and welcome cash and carry.

Plentymake (Pty) Ltd donated a conference table with 12 chairs to Lerala Kgotla. Debswana contributed five computers to Lerala Kgotla and they will also benefit Majwaneng and Mogapinyana kgotla offices while Welcome cash and carry donated a computer to Seolwane Kgotla.

Col Masilo said the company’s noble gesture of having a sense of charity proved that they were not just companies making profit, but use the profits they make to plough back to the community.

He also thanked Kgosi Molebatsi Moroka and other dikgosi in surrounding villages for coming up with an initiative of approaching different companies to help in the betterment of the lives of his community.

He said like Jesus Christ, great leaders focused on serving and helping those they were leading, and a unity of dikgosi for Lerala, Mogapinyana, Majwaneng and Seolwane showed a sign of servant leadership.

Col Masilo said in his Presidential inauguration in 2008, President Lt General, Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama called upon everyone to assist government in bringing about dignity to the unprivileged members of the society. Quoting the President, he said, “No one should need to live an undignified life as a result of poor shelter or health and abuse in a domestic environment.

Anything in life that brings you suffering affects your dignity as a person and we shall seek to address and overcome some of these challenges.”

Pep Store General Manager, Mr Liaan Scholetes said they donated with the intention of bringing the nation together in order to collectively work towards alleviating poverty.

He said this initiative grouped together organizations like Pep, Ladies Circle and Yarona Fm.  ENDS