16 Nov 2017

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso has confirmed that there are some damaged or missing doors and window panels at Mokubilo RADs hostels due to recurring vandalism of the hostel property by hostels pupils.

Answering a question in Parliament from the MP for Boteti East Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe recently, Ms Tshireletso said in order to address the problem, the Boteti District Council came up with an initiative to install steel doors that are not easily broken and plastic windows panels that are also not easily broken.

She explained that the pupils accommodated at Mokubilo RADs hostels are from Makgaba RAD settlement and cattleposts around Mokubilo Village.

These cattle posts are Modimotsebe, Xweejena, Xhomme, Butlajena, Sethorana, Xhonxhakao, Jishoro, Kea, Kwii, Mosakaphala, Poloka, Ghoa, Piijena, dene, Tsutsuga, Thalamabele, and Xanejena.

The Minister explained that there is an affirmative action in the situation because the pupils have been collected from their cattle posts which are far from primary schools and accommodated at the education facility.

She stated however, that it is true that there are incidents where some pupils escape from the hostel but they do not escape during the night and their escape is not attributed to this situation, adding that the main factor is truancy and peer pressure.

Ms Tshireletso said the district council has already engaged in-house staff to fix the hostels.

She said currently the council has completed fixing Kedia RADS and is now working on Khwee RADs hostels.

Ms Tshireletso said after finishing, the council will proceed straight to Mokubilo and Mosu RADs hostels from December 2017 to March 2018.

She disclosed that the total cost for replacement of existing damaged doors with fabricated steel doors and fixing window panes is P200 000.

MP Lelatisitswe had asked the minister if she was aware that both the boys and girls hostels at Mokubilo Primary School do not have doors and window panes for more than a year now.

The legislator had wanted the minister to state the origin of students that are housed in these hostels; and if there is an affirmative action in addressing this situation and whether it is true that some children escape at night and go back to their cattle posts where their parents stay because of the situation.

MP Lelatisitswe had also wanted the minister to state the amount of money that will be used to fix these hostels and window panes and when the work will be done. BOPA