16 Oct 2017

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van der Westhuizen has commended civil servants who have taken up posts in his constituency.

Addressing a series of kgotla meetings in Kgalagadi South, Mr Van der Westhuizen pointed out that he was impressed with the level of patriotism that civil servants had shown by accepting to serve in Kgalagadi.

He said this demonstrated that they were eager to drive the economy of the country and help fellow Batswana by taking services to them.

The assistant minister said civil servants should act as ambassadors of the constituency and sell the district to those who do not know it, adding that the district was now habitable, unlike in the past where there was no tarred roads, electricity and poor communication networks.

The Member of Parliament went on to say that residents should prioritise projects whenever they were given some money to develop their village.

He told them the importance of choosing the ones that would benefit all in the village and improve lives such as building guest houses and electrifying VDC houses.

The Village Development Committee chairperson of Draaihoek, Mr Atlholang Dikodi thanked government for providing their tribal offices with transport and houses for destitute persons.

He however pointed out that some buildings in the village needed major maintenance services as they were now showing some signs of dilapidation, especially at the primary school and clinic.

Mr Dikodi pointed out that although they welcomed the good gesture of government by helping them with donkey carts that would transport their children to school, the money that the donkey owners would be getting was way too little.

He said as the community of Draaihoek they felt that it would be better if government could increase the money from P1 000 to P2 000 as they were forced to buy feeds for their donkeys.

The MP said although the money may be too little, government had done its part by trying to help children who stay far away from school and as such it was advisable that they too come to the party and do their part, rather than complaining.

He revealed that authorities were aware of the state of the Tsabong Hospital, which could no longer handle the influx of patients from the constituency and as such a decision had been made to construct another hospital during the 2018/19 financial year. ENDS