16 May 2018

Molepolole Sub-district Council chairperson, Mr Botokanyana Motoroko says despite calls to adhere to policy guidelines of Early Childhood Care and Education policy, the sub-district continues to experience a high number of unlicensed establishments. 

Speaking during the opening of Molepolole Administrative Authority (MAA) Sub-council meeting on Monday, Mr Motoroko highlighted that of the 53 operating pre-schools in the sub-district, only six are licensed as they have been able to reach the required policy guidelines of Early Childhood Care Policy of 2001.

He urged councillors to take charge as community leaders in helping address the disturbing trend of mushrooming of day care centres, saying they prevailed in their respective areas of operations.

He further stated that a decision had been taken for the department of Social and Community Development and by-law to enforce laws and act accordingly to fight pre-school mushrooming. 

The council chairperson also briefed the councillors about the sub-council budget increase of 8.3 per cent this financial year. 

He therefore implored managers to ensure doubled efforts in the provision of quality services as well as to ensure prudent management of funds to avoid budget deficit.

He said the department of Waste Management in MAA was struggling with provision of waste collection services. 

“In order to rescue the situation, the department has engaged small contractors for a period of two months to cover areas of Lekgwapheng, Goo Ntloedibe, Sebele, Borakalalo, Boswelakoko and St Pauls.

The other hindrance, he said, was the issue of non-functionality of two refuse compactors, leaving only one compactor that he said could not stand the workload at Gamodubu Land Fill. 

Regarding the issue of street lighting, Cllr Motoroko said the council had engaged a contractor for the maintenance of streetlights to improve streetlights, which were currently in a bad state.

“We have planned to install tower lights in open spaced in Molepolole for the 2018/2019 financial year, but due to budgetary constraints we will only be able to construct three tower lights,” he stated.

He said despite challenges of poor road status in the area, the council would only be able to do spot improvements in most affected roads as funds would not permit.

He also noted that the health ministry had reported over 5 830 Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)  cases during the just ended financial year, 1 527 of which were reported during the last quarter. 

“This is an indication that more STIs are reported during festive seasons. 

There is need to strengthen strategies to reduce these statistics,” he said.

Another issue of concern, he said, was an increase of 3.6 per cent in reported cases of malnutrition among children under five years in settlements and mobile health stops.

He therefore called on care takers to observe the hygienic practices in food preparations and ensure boiled water before consumption to reduce childhood ailments such as diarrhea, which ultimately predisposed childhood malnutrition.

He also challenged Molepolole community to support the police in the fight against crime that has invaded the village. 

He emphasised the fact that with the population of over 80 000 people serviced by 286 police officers, it was difficult for the police to arrest the situation,  but instead they would constantly receive public criticisms. ENDS