04 Feb 2018

The largest share of the over P259 million has been targeted to benefit primary school maintenance across the Kweneng District.

That came to light during presentation of the District’s Development Budget Estimate report for 2018/2019 by the finance committee chairperson, Mr Mathata Selaledi at the special full council meeting recently.

He said due the appalling status of schools in the district, a decision was taken to focus mainly on schools through a total budget of over P57 million for the 31 primary schools across the district that will be distributed among the three sub-district councils being Molepolole, Mogoditshane/Thamaga and Letlhakeng.

He said despite the initial target of 23 classroom and three blocks of toilets, budgeted under the Economic Stimulus Programme, a decision was taken by the ministry to prioritise schools with shortage of classrooms, an exercise which will have the district receiving additional funding for 17 schools.

Other critical areas to be addressed by the budget will include among others, construction of the 75 non-RADP and 35 RAPD houses under Social Welfare at the total of over P9 million and the P71 million for the implementation of Ipelegeng programmes.

Making a comment, Councillor Botokanyana Motoroko pleaded with the council to consider planning for areas of Mmatseta and Gakuto since they were receiving high influx of people due to its proximity to the city.

He said such areas required serious consideration for additional classrooms to avoid crisis of increased numbers of children in the near future, especially that allocation of plots around the area was increasing, something which he said might worsen the situation and required planning.

Cllr Motoroko’s sentiment were echoed by Cllr Ofentse Mareme to the effect that development planning should be based on population, adding that some areas that had been left out were mostly affected.

In response to councillors’ comments, Kweneng District Council Secretary, Mr Goleba Kgari said the council was aware of dire need for classrooms in various schools around the district, but highlighted financial constraints due to inadequate funding.

He further briefed the council about the significant increase of 396 per cent towards stationery for pupils in primary schools with the budget of P450 per child as opposed to the previous P64.

On the issue of destitute housing, Cllr Duncan Ramasiagopana expressed concern over the fact that priorities were unfairly done, overlooking critical areas as councilors were not involved in assessments processes.

“Although I agree with the fact that issues of destitute housing is of paramount importance, we need to consider the fact that the problem was not peculiar to specific areas, but common to most areas that would require more funding than what the council would have,” said Mr Kgari.

He made emphasis over the fact that a number of areas required attention, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the council continued to find itself in a difficult position, and therefore bound to put some of its priorities aside.

He further briefed the council about plans to purchase three buses for the three sub-districts to improve transportation of pupils.

The council secretary on the other hand called on councillors to ensure that communities were educated to be watch dogs of development facilities in their respective areas.

“We need to be aware of the fact that sub-districts were operating with limited funding that may not be able to address all the needs required.

Therefore it is important that we protected what is provided against vandalism.”

Meanwhile, KDC chairperson, Mr Jeffery Sibisibi assured the meeting about improved delivery of services through bottom-up planning to empower sub-districts to reduce the red tape. ENDS