27 Aug 2017

Boteti councillors have expressed disappointment at rejections of applications by the Department of Gender Affairs.

The councillors expressed their disappointment during a sub-council session in Letlhakane last week, stating that the issue would cause conflict between them and their constituents.

Councillor Cornelius Solomon of Toromoja said the issue required immediate attention, citing that their constituents were blaming them for sabotage.

Councillor Ketshwereng Galeragwe said he was in total disbelief with the response applicants got from the department.

He said applicants were told to try their luck on other government programmes.

In addition, coucillor Galeragwe said the grading of internal roads in Letlhakane was hardly undertaken.

Specially elected councillor for Boteti West, Mr Nsiiwa Nsiiwa said he suspected approval of applications at the Department of Youth in Rakops was not done accordingly, saying that there were a lot of rejections which attracted a lot of appeals, and that many of them were approved.

Councillor Nsiiwa stated that he even encouraged those who were regretted to appeal their applications.

He also expressed concern with regard to the construction of the Makgadikgadi/Nxai Park non-lethal electric game proof fence, saying it was a waste of money as elephants continued to damage the fence whilst construction was ongoing.

Councillor Baobonye Loeto, also specially elected councillor for Boteti West, said effective measures needed to be put in place to address human/wildlife conflict in the sub-district.

Councillor Loeto noted that farming in their sub-district was impacted negatively by elephants and lions destroying fences in the fields and killing livestock.

While councillor Boitumelo Kgosi suggested that Boteti Sub-district should seek assistance from Debswana with regard to grading of internal roads in Letlhakane, noting that Jwaneng mine helped the town council with grading.

Councillor Aaron Engliton of Xere complained that there was a criminal who had been hiding in the bushes in Xere and have since reported but was never arrested.

He also expressed disappointment, stating that information shared by officers with councillors was misleading, most importantly issues regarding Xere ward.

He indicated that he was initially informed that Xere could not be serviced by a female police officer, but was disappointed to learn the officer was transferred there.

He also complained that it was clearly laid out that the 14 kilometres Rakops/Xere would be graveled, but that the road was only done six kilometers, saying it was not indicated it would be undertaken in phases.Ends