01 Mar 2018

Parliament has been informed that a total of 12 donkey carts were procured and allocated to primary schools in the Nata/Gweta, Nkange and Shashe West constituencies to transport children during the 2016/17 financial year.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen said this when responding to parliamentary question on Wednesday.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen said although none of the 12 carts was operational, 10 carts were allocated to Nkange while two were given to Shashe West constituency.

He said out of the 12, only one cart operated for only three months, adding that the carts were not used because the operators complained of the low rate of P652, which was increased to P1 000, but still there was no uptake of the initiative.

“The donkey carts had not been fully used, therefore the intended purpose was never achieved.

However, the carts will be redistributed to other sub-districts where they will be utilised,” he said.

Nata-Gweta Member of Parliament, Mr Polson Majaga had asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to state the number of donkey carts that were allocated to schools in the Nata/Gweta, Nkange and Shashe West constituencies to transport children to schools.

Mr Majaga also wanted to know how many such carts were operational, how many had never been used and why, and if the donkey carts had achieved the purpose for which they were introduced.

Still in Parliament, the assistant minister explained that during the 2017/18 financial year, P567 187 100 was allocated to Ipelegeng Programme to cover implementation costs of labour at P434 186 112.

This, he added, represented a reduction of over P36 million from the previous budget.

According to Mr Van Der Westhuizen, P121 710 720 was allocated to cover sustenance, materials at P16 114 598 and running costs at P4 175 670.

He said he was aware that there was shortage of tools for Ipelegeng workers due to budgetary constraints.

In addition, he said, the running costs cover personal emoluments and subsistence costs for officers coordinating the programme at national and regional level.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen further noted that during the 2017/18 financial year, slots for Ipelegeng workers were increased by 4 622 and allowances increased by P31 for supervisors and P27 for labourers.

He further explained that this had put a significant strain on the already constrained budget; a scenario that had negatively affected the budget to purchase tools.

“My ministry continues to rationalise savings from materials, where possible, to purchase tools,” he said.

Nata-Gweta legislator had asked the minister if he was aware that there was shortage of tools for Ipelegeng workers countrywide since the Ipelegeng budget did not cover such tools hampering efficiency in the execution of the programme.

He also enquired on measures that were put in place to rectify the situation. ENDS