10 Sep 2017

Kweneng District Commissioner, Dr Temba Mmusi has apologised to Salajwe residents for the delay in paying them after government collected goats from them for various poverty eradication programmes.

Speaking at a kgotla meeting at the village recently, Dr Mmusi said his office only realised that it had run out of funds after collecting the goats. 

He, however, informed them that his office was awaiting additional funds, and that they would be paid as soon as the funds were available.

“We will send communication to you through your village leadership as soon as the funds are available and come and pay you as soon as possible,” he said.

Dr Mmusi noted that the proper procedure was that the office should ensure that funds were available before they collected goats from people. 

He also dispelled rumours making rounds in the village that the ward councillor had collected the money on behalf of the people and misappropriated it. 

On other issues, Dr Mmusi promised to consult relevant officers on issues concerning them that were raised in their absence.

Some of the complaints were raised by Kgosi Moala Gaerupi in his welcome remarks. He said Water Utilities Corporation often pumped their tanks until they overflowed, resulting in loss of water.

He urged the corporation to closely monitor the situation as it lured cattle into the village. 

He also complained about the closure of public standpipes, saying instead of closing them, residents should have been given tokens.

He said the shortage of public standpipes was especially hard for residents who were relocated from neighbouring cattle posts such as Kolojane on the promise of better amenities at Salajwe.

Kgosi Gaerupi also complained about shortage of officers such as agricultural demonstrators and veterinary officers, saying it maked the rolling out of poverty eradication programmes a challenge.

Kweneng District agricultural coordinator, Ms Khaliso Phokedi said such officers were not allocated per village.

She explained that the officers  covered a cluster of villages and that villagers should ensure that their farmers committees were running so as to help them liaise with such officers.

For their part, residents appreciated Dr Mmusi’s visit and clarification on the issue of pending payments, and said that the assurance would help clear the area councillor’s name.

Area councillor, Mr Lopang Sebutlenyane also appreciated Dr Mmusi’s clarification, saying that the rumours had made him an unfree man in the village. 

He said the clarification would also restore the people’s trust in government and their willingness to do business with her. ENDS