04 Oct 2018

Government is concerned about increasing numbers of destitutes in the country, says Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development permanent secretary Mr Boipolelo Khumomatlhare.

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, Mr Khumomatlhare said government had therefore decided to register all beneficiaries of its programmes in an effort to identify those benefitting twice.
In addition, he said beneficiaries would be assessed to determine if their lives had improved.

Mr Khumomatlhare said government was working on a new destitute assessment tool as it appeared some had been excluded.

In some instances, he explained, some people were disqualified from the destitute programme because their children had built them houses.

He said beneficiaries in areas such as Patayamatebele, Robelela, Damochojenaa and Matopi, where land and water were available, should be encouraged to take up agricultural projects.

“We can also check the various crops they can plough and the market as well as check if fish farming could be undertaken,” he said.

On other issues, the permanent secretary said since the country was facing financial constraints, constituency funds should be driving the district development plans.

He said it was imperative that constituency funds be used for planned projects to avoid the backlog that may be caused by the undertaking of unplanned ventures. Ends