05 Dec 2017

A total of 123 people have been enrolled to be assisted temporarily under different government programmes, says Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van De Westhuizen.

He said they included 11 temporary destitute persons assisted monthly with food baskets worth of P550 and P250 cash components.

He added that 87 needy students were assisted with school uniform and school fees exemption out of which six were at brigades and were assisted with payment of rentals, transport fare and food baskets for those in non-boarding brigades.

He also said 16 children were  exempted from paying school fees. Mr Van De Westhuizen further said nine adults were enrolled in the Ipelegeng programme on a non-rotational basis.

The assistant minister said the number of people who sought assistance  was 166  and that only 123 were enrolled, translating to 74 per cent leaving out 26 per cent who did not qualify for assistance because they did not meet the eligible criteria.

He said the ministry continued to assess and offer support to needy families under existing programmes.

Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had wanted to know the number of people or families who had approached social and community development offices to be assisted as temporary destitute after losing jobs at BCL mine in Selebi Phikwe West constituency.

He also wanted the specific number of people declared temporary destitute and how they were being assisted.

He further wanted to know the number of people who sought help but were not assisted, and why they were not assisted and steps taken by the ministry to mitigate the adverse socio-economic effects of the mine closure on families. ENDS