21 Feb 2017

The deputy district commissioner for Letlhakeng Sub -district, Mr Boammaaruri Otlhogile has promised the Letlhakeng community leadership that his office, together with other administrative leadership will improve on giving feedback to the community on projects that have not been approved.

Speaking at a meeting organised to give them feedback on projects approved under NDP 11 for the area at Letlhakeng on Friday, Mr Otlhogile said when doing project proposals, people sometimes expect that what they have proposed would be approved.
He said there were some projects that they had informed the community that they would done, only for them to be shelved because of shortage of funds, and admitted the need to give proper feedback on such.

Mr Otlhogile was responding after most attendants from various villages across the sub district expressed concern that most of the projects that they had proposed, together with the ones that they had been promised in the past, do not appear in NDP 11, which will be taking effect next financial year.

Participants also complained of what they termed unfair distribution of projects, citing the Dutlwe satellite police station and complaining that Dutlwe is in the proximity of Takatokwane where there is already a fully-fledged police station, adding that villages like Motokwe are more deserving.

Participants also raised a concern that the report did not include projects that would be undertaken by all the ministries.
In response, the assistant council secretary, Ms Ekannamang Ramasimong explained that they had not yet received finalised projects from other ministries, hence the seemingly incomplete report.

Giving a vote on thanks, the Member of Parliament for Takatokwane, Mr Ngaka Ngaka commended the management of the sub district for the meeting, saying it indicated good democracy as community leaders are vital in the development of the country.

He said such an arrangement would also help them explain to their subordinates when they get back to their villages. On the other hand, Mr Ngaka complained of the tendency by civil servants in the area who never attend kgotla meetings addressed by MPs.

He said their attendance would help in giving spot-on explanations when the community raises issues, unlike the current situation where MPs are often forced to seek clarification at offices after meetings.

Explaining the objectives of the meeting, Mr Otlhogile said was to give feedback to the community leaders on projects approved under NDP 11.

He assured them that projects that had not been approved had not been abandoned, but just shelved and might be considered subject to availability of funds. BOPA