23 May 2018

The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security has no plans to relocate or auction the horses in Bokspits, Ntlo ya Dikgosi has been told.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said instead measures were being put in place to prevent them from straying into the road reserve and other public places.

She said a herd man had been deployed to ensure their safety and that of the public.

Specially elected Kgosi Isaac Titus had asked the assistant minister to state if there were plans to relocate the police horses in Bokspits to a safer place or auction them considering that they were roaming the village and had become a threat to road users.

Still at Ntlo ya Dikgosi, Ms Tshireletso stated that her ministry does not have posts of IT officers that could be deployed at the Department of Tribal Administration at the districts.

She told members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi that the department was operating with two temporary IT officers, one based in Gaborone and the other in Francistown to serve all customary courts.

Ms Tshireletso noted that tribal secretaries had been advised to collaborate with districts councils to attend to cases of emergency.

Kgosi David Toto II of Kgalagadi South had asked the ministry to deploy an IT officer at the Tsabong Tribal Administration offices on a permanent basis to allow for prompt attention to issues rather than waiting for an IT officer from Gaborone.

On other issues, the assistant minister told Ntlo ya Dikgosi that her ministry was aware of acute shortage of tribal administration offices countrywide, Tsabong kgotla inclusive.

Ms Tshireletso said in order to address the challenge during financial year 2016/17, 30 offices were constructed across the country under the Economic Stimulus Porgramme (ESP1).

She said during the 2018/19 financial year, 20 more offices would be constructed under ESP3 to address the shortage, and that the ministry would consider customary courts that did not have offices, funds permitting.

Ms Tshireletso further stated that her ministry had no budgetary provision under the current financial year to procure porta cabins for the Tsabong kgotla. She said the procurement of porta cabins had proven not to be cost effective on account of their lifespan and cost.

Kgosi Toto II had asked if the ministry would consider providing the Tsabong kgotla with porta cabins while awaiting the extension of the offices in order for Tribal Administration officers to be accommodated in one area.

Regarding the renovation of the Bokspits Police Station and staff houses, Ms Tshireletso said the ministry had no plans to renovate them.

Assistant minister Tshireletso said a contractor was engaged to do work and was due to complete the project on July 31, 2017. She said the contractor had been underperforming and that in December 2017 he deserted the site.

Ms Tshireletso said the Department of Building and Engineering Services (DBES) in Tsabong was searching for the contractor with a view to terminate the contract, adding that to date the contractor had not been traced.

Specially elected Kgosi Isaac Titus had asked if the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security had plans to renovate the Bokspits Police Station since police officers operated from portable caravans very limited in space.

Kgosi Titus also wanted to know when renovation would take place. Ends