05 Feb 2017

The village development committees (VDCs) have been tasked with coordination of projects that would be carried under the P10 million awarded to each constituency.

South East District Council (SEDC) chief social and economic development officer, Ms Sylvia Gilika, told a full council session in Ramotswa recently.

Ms Gilika said each constituency would get P10 million to carry out projects, which would be decided in consultation with the community.

“The main objective of these projects is economic empowerment of communities and job creation,” she pointed.
The project funding had been divided into three components of community projects, training and logistic and block grants.

“Projects under the community projects, the funding will cut across all sectors of the community including farmer’s committees and parents teachers associations among other organisations,” she said.

Ms Gilika cited construction of community halls, poultries, brick moulding, market stalls and community gardens as some of those which can be constructed under the community projects which as a limit of P250 000 per project.

She noted that all the VDC’s will each get P7 000 under the block grant component and added that the training and logistics component dealt with developing and improving project management and implementation skills of VDCs and other community members.

The SEDC council chairperson Mr Leboile Israel said only P7 000 will be due to the VDCs accounts while the rest will be managed from the council.

He noted that previous VDC audits have pointed to issues of mismanagement of money hence the need for training, mentoring and support. Furthermore, as a precaution measure, community development officers will cede to perform welfare issues to focus on their co-mandate of community development he said.

He further pleaded with councillors to develop interest on the affairs of the VDCs saying the money will be split between all the VDCs. For their part, councillor expressed mixed feelings towards the introduction of the fund.

Nominated councillor, Mr Matshidiso Fologang said there were people who live in farms and they need to be catered for under the programme.

He said there was need for community development officers to team up with councillors to ensure that the community projects become successful.

Councillor Sisimogang Dilo said some constituencies were bigger than others hence the modality used for allocating funds disadvantaged bigger constituencies. BOPA