18 Feb 2018

Parliament has been informed that five out of nine primary schools in Gabane/Mmankgodi have playgrounds.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen said the remaining four schools of Mmonye, Letlole, Pule and Gasiko do not have playgrounds due to unavailability of land for expansion nearby.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen said a piece of land had been identified in Mmankgodi to cater for both Mmonye and Letlole primary schools.

Furthermore, he said consultations were underway to find land for Pule and Gasiko primary schools.

He said the schools that had playgrounds were Gabane, Tloaneng, Metsimotlhabe, Serameng and Mmokolodi primary schools.

Gabane/Mankgodi MP, Major General Pius Mokgware had asked the minister if he was aware that most schools in his constituency had no playgrounds, and that they were using community grounds for sports activities. He further asked if building playgrounds for the schools would be considered.

Still in Parliament, the assistant minister said he was not aware that the stationery that was supplied to primary schools in Gabane/Mmankgodi constituency was of low quality.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen explained that the stationery that had been supplied to schools met the requirements as per the specifications that were stipulated in the tender documents.

In response to a question from Gabane/Mmankgodi MP, Maj. Gen. Mokgware the assistant minister said the company that supplied the stationery was a 100 per cent citizen owned company called Alepeng and Sons (PTY LTD).

He, however, noted that while he was not aware of the challenges regarding the low quality of stationery, his ministry would continue to monitor the situation countrywide to ensure compliance to stipulated specifications.

Maj. Gen. Mokgware had asked the minister if he was aware of the low quality of stationery supplied to schools in his constituency.

He also wanted to know the name of the company which supplied the stationery, and what the minister was doing to address the challenge. Ends