27 Nov 2017

South East South Sub-district, which covers the whole of Ramotswa constituency is faced with rising cases of malnutrition.

The sub-district council learned during its session in Ramotswa recently when chairperson, Mr Adolf Mosalaesi remarked that the children were either left alone to fend for themselves or not given proper and regular meals.

“The sub district is currently experiencing a rise in cases of malnutrition which are basically due to child negligence and abuse,” he said.

He explained that out of all cases registered with social and community development, more than 20 five per cent were of child abuse.

Mr Mosalaesi said some of these cases end up forcing social workers to remove children from their natural environment and find alternative care for some in the form of institutional care such as Child Line and SOS.

“However, these placements are only a temporary measure because institutions are not the best places for the care and upbringing of children,” he stated.

He opined that most of the children who grow up in institutions grow up without sense of identity and kinship hence they find it difficult to integrate back in to the society when they exit such institutions.

Therefore he appealed to councillors and parents to join hands and ensure that there was proper child care in the constituency.

Also, Mr Mosalaesi urged families to come to the social and community development offices and register for the foster care programme, where situations are unfavorable.

On other issues, the sub district chairperson regretted the collapsed boarder line between South Africa and Botswana.

He said the fence made it difficult for the police to fight crime as it made it easy for illegal crossing to and from South Africa.

Further, the boarder line has contributed to stock theft cases between the two countries as cattle move freely along the border.

“Lack of boarder line access route in the area has made it difficult for patrol teams to access the furthest point and illegal smuggling of goods to and from South Africa is a serious concern,” he stated.

With regard to education, Mr Mosalaesi stated that the ministry of local government and rural development had confirmed that effective next financial year, the new primary school feeding programme menu will be implemented.

He descried the programme as a positive development, saying it would ensure closure of the gap between primary and secondary schools feeding.

However he stated that the programme has come with challenges that the council will be forced to accommodate, such as manpower constraints and refrigeration facilities for perishables and he noted that the council will have to make a plan for those situations. ENDS