07 Sep 2017

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso has urged public officers serving in the Kgalagadi North Constituency to improve service delivery.

Addressing residents of Ukhwi in a kgotla meeting on Tuesday Ms Tshireletso said it was imperative for public officers to serve beneficiaries with diligence, to enable them make informed decisions about the ample government programmes, meant to improve their livelihoods especially those in remote areas.

Ms Tshireletso urged them to take their work seriously and ensure that people residing in the remotest areas, have equal accessibility of services as much as those in major villages and towns.

Mahalapye East legislator also encouraged public officers provide residents with instant feedback to avoid beneficiaries becoming reluctant in pursuing their business dreams.

Ms Tshireletso further encouraged the public officers to visit beneficiaries’ projects to get first-hand information on the progress of the funded projects in order to compile detailed reports on the progress or regression of the programmes.

On other issues, the assistant minister told residents that Ipelegeng quota for their areas had been increased to accommodate larger numbers.

Presenting the Village Development Committee (VDC) report, chairperson Mr Alpheus Modisane applauded the government for the destitute houses in their village, the project that he said was running efficiently.

However, he explained that they faced shortage of public officers’ accommodation and through the P10 million constituency fund, they had decided to build two LA 1 houses to arrest the situation.

Mr Modisane also applauded government’s efforts for providing remote area residents with different programmes to uplift their livelihoods but decried the incomplete packages given to beneficiaries.

Furthermore, he requested for the electrification of the school premises and other government offices.

He also decried lack of business operating space and requested for a market stall where they could house business operators.

Commenting, one of the beneficiaries Ms Keletso Kagiso, said she was assisted through poverty eradication programme and operated a catering company.

She testified that her business was thriving through awarded tenders from government departments, adding that she managed to build herself a six-roomed house.

Another beneficiary, Ms Mpotsang Seikobeo who operates a beauty parlor said the business was performing poorly.

Some villagers who were given small stock and cattle decried shortage of water for animals. They complained that they had lost animals due to shortage of water and predators.

In response, Ms Tshireletso decried poor uptake of government programmes in Ukhwi. She encouraged the relevant authorities tasked with poverty eradication programmes to ensure that they packaged beneficiaries accordingly, by giving them businesses that would perform better in their locality.

Ms Tshireletso also encouraged them to think outside the box and come up with other productive business ideas to supplement other business packages in their area.

She further commended all those who managed to benefit through different programmes.

She urged them to continue displaying resilience and determination in building their business for the betterment of their livelihoods in remote areas, as well as those who were still lagging behind to up their game to make positive changes in their lives.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Phillip Ping, pleaded with roads department to gravel the road that connected their village to Hukuntsi for easy accessibility to nearby potential markets for their produce.

He also complained about the increasing crime in the village and requested for vehicle that would assist the kgota office perform their administrative duties. BOPA