31 Oct 2017

Letlhakeng Sub-district chairperson, Mr Tlotlo Batlhophi says his council is concerned with the lack of commitment by beneficiaries of various poverty eradication projects.

Officially opening the sub council forum in Letlhakeng on Monday, Mr Batlhophi noted that as many as 115 projects in the area were non-operational with some abandoned. 

He said some beneficiaries cited lack of a market as a result of saturation of similar projects thereby leading to failure.

Mr Batlhophi said 12 projects were reported to be successful, and that about 210 projects were operational across Letlhakeng/Lephepe and Takatokwane constituencies.

He said despite the challenges and limited resources, officers were doing their best to monitor projects to ensure their sustainability. On the other hand, he encouraged beneficiaries to show more commitment. He also urged the political leadership to help by encouraging beneficiaries to be more committed.

Mr Batlhophi, however, noted that group projects in the five remote area communities of Diphuduhudu, Sorilatholo, Kaudwane, Tshwaane and Khekhenye were doing well. He also noted that projects included bakery and sewing. On issues of health, Mr Batlhophi informed councillors that Salajwe, which has long been promised a medical doctor, was still serviced by Letlhakeng as suitable accommodation for the doctor could not be found.

He also said the sub district continued to experience drug shortages with their availability currently standing at 71 per cent. He said some drugs were out of stock at the Central Medical Stores.

He noted that it has forced the District Health Management Team to order some drugs from private pharmacies that also failed to supply.

Mr Batlhophi also informed councillors that the Letlhakeng sub-land board was forced to postpone the land registration exercise a number of times after it noticed that a substantial number of plot holders had not come forth to claim their land parcels.

He noted that the deadline for registration was the end of this year, and that the sub land board was currently at 40 per cent registration.

He also noted that the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services was still finalising the legislation that would guide the production of certificates expected at the beginning of next year.

He said as at September the waiting list for both residential and ploughing fields stood at 8 983 and 785 respectively. BOPA