02 Apr 2017

The fire that burnt at Khwee Primary School was deliberately set by a villager who was later convicted, whereas the incident at Mokubilo Primary School was caused by two minors who were left alone in the staff house.

Answering a question in Parliament, Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services,  Mr Itumeleng Moipisi said both fire incidents took place in 2014 at two staff houses.

He said following the incident at Khwee, AON Insurance Company released P481 308.28 as compensation and for Mokubilo AON released P422 597.55.

“It is not true that Central District Council decided to reprioritise the money and ignored fixing the two teachers’ quarters,” he said, noting that when funds of this nature are received, they are transferred to the district headquarters’ account, after which the concerned sub-district council would request to utilise the funds through the Finance, Planning and Development Committee of council.

He said in compliance with this procedure, funds were transferred to the district headquarters on August 5, 2015 and Boteti Sub-district Council subsequently submitted the request to use funds on February 13, 2017 where approval was granted.

“The procurement process for replacement of houses at the two villages is on-going. Construction is expected to start beginning of April 2017,” he concluded.

Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked the Minister of Local government and Rural Development if he was aware of the two staff houses that burnt in Khwee and Mokubilo primary schools and if so, what caused the fire and which year did it happen.

He also asked the minister whether it was true that the insurance company had long released the money and that the Central District Council decided to reprioritise the money and ignore fixing the two teachers’ quarters, if so, why and when would those two houses be fixed or repaired to supplement staff shortage in the two villages. ENDS