20 Jun 2017

Financial misconduct and failure to account by some Village Development Committees (VDCs) could push government to transfer their (VDCs) housing operations to councils for shrewd management of houses, Assistant

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse has said.

Speaking at kgotla meetings at Botalaote and Mpulubusi in Serowe on Monday, the assistant minister said findings have revelled that VDCs housing operations were fraught with unaccountability and misappropriation of funds from housing proceeds.

Mr Autlwetse, who is also Member of Parliament for Serowe North, said such maladministration at VDCs would force the new or incoming committee to seek financial rescue either from government or councils to start afresh.

Mr Autlwetse also said the disturbing development led to VDCs failing to maintain their houses yet tenants paid rentals.

He said the expectation was that rental would be used to pay the maintenance bill, but that  VDCs have consistently sought to be bankrolled from government coffers for maintenance of houses. “Re a itse gore re tla bo re bolaile ba matsogo a sa dutleng,” Mr Autlwetse said emphasising the need to transfer VDCs houses to councils whilst conceding that not all VDCs were at fault.

The assistant minister said it would be financially prudent to transfer VDC houses to council since VDCs drew their allowance from councils.

Bidibidi VDC member, Mr Gaamangwe Keitshokile had told the kgotla meeting that some of their houses had no certificates and leases and that they had lease arrears at Serowe Sub-land board.

However, Mr Keitshokile informed the minister and his entourage that they had held meetings with the Serowe Sub-land board to arrange for an amicable payment method for the lease arrears.

On other issues, Mr Autlwetse informed his constituents of the approved community projects to be undertaken through the constituency development fund.

He, however, informed his electorate that although P10 million appeared like a huge amount, it was not enough to service all the constituency needs. 

He appealed for calm and levelheadedness in the distribution of projects to be undertaken.

He said from the P10 million, each of the eight wards under Serowe North constituency would get P1.1 million for various community projects.

He added that the remaining P1.2 million would act as contingency since history has taught that the construction industry required such.

At Motetshwane ward two roads, one from Choppies Botalaote to Motetshwane Primary School and another leading to Motalaote Primary School would be constructed with interlocking bricks at a total cost of P750 000. The ward will also get a VDC house for P360 000. BOPA