22 Jan 2017

Residents of Sefhare/ Ramokgonami constituency have refuted allegations that they want government to stop the Ipelegeng programme.

The residents informed the Minister of Health and Wellness Ms Dorcas Makgato, who is also their Member of Parliament recently during kgotla meetings. Ms Makgato had wanted clarity from the residents on whether it was true that they said that they wanted Ipelegeng to be stopped.

She told the residents that a representative of Batswapong at Ntlo ya Dikgosi, Kgosi Galeakanye Modise had tabled  a motion which seeks for the cancellation of Ipelegeng programme on October 12, last year during Ntlo ya Dikgosi session.

Ms Makgato said that Kgosi Modise told Ntlo ya Dikgosi session that all the villages that he represents except Seolwane were calling for the cancellation of Ipelegeng programme.

Ms Makgato said she had been surprised to hear that the residents were asking for the government to cancel Ipelegeng. She said that what she knows is that the residents requested the government to consider increasing the quota of Ipelegeng beneficiaries in their villages. The residents said that they were shocked by what Kgosi Modise is reported to have said at Ntlo ya Dikgosi. Some said that Kgosi

Modise did not hold kgotla meetings in their villages while others said Kgosi Modise held kgotla meetings but did not talk about Ipelegeng programme.

Mr Basiami Kolagano of Tumasera said they need Ipelegeng to continue in their village. Another resident of Tumasera Mr Goitsemang Otshedile said that they cannot ask the government to stop Ipelegeng programme because they depend on it to improve their livelihoods.

They also said that Ipelegeng is one of the programmes that develop their villages. Ms Lydia Sepolwane of Ngwapa said that it was disheartening to hear that Kgosi Modise moved a motion without consulting them.

Minister Makgato said that the government cannot just stop Ipelegeng programme because it was useful. She however said that the residents should not panic. BOPA