06 Aug 2013

Residents of Tati Siding and Shashe Bridge have complained that assessors for poverty eradication programmes are not doing a good job as some people were denied the opportunity to benefit from it due to their physical appearance. They raised the concern at a kgotla meeting addressed by their Member of Parliament, Mr Samson Guma recently.

An elderly woman, Ms Grace Bayani explained that she had registered to be considered as beneficiary but upon inquiring about the outcomes of the assessment, she was told that registration had been closed and did not qualify as such projects were meant for people who were seriously in need and not just anyone.

This, she said, had pained her since the social workers in their area were not forthcoming in helping her and maintained that she did not have children who could take care of her as they had died.  Another old woman, Ms Khungwana Bobi explained that she was a beneficiary of the poverty eradication programme and was given a tent with chairs and tables to rent out to people.

However, she said since May this year, she was stopped from working at Ipelegeng because the social worker said as a beneficiary, she could not benefit twice on poverty eradication programmes. She therefore noted that this was a setback in her life because a tent was hired occasionally when they were events while through Ipelegeng, she had been able to put food on the table.

She therefore pleaded with the MP to explain to them the criteria used to select beneficiaries. Another resident, Ms Georginah Motshegwa said Shashe Bridge was left out on developments as it was located on the outskirts of the A1 road.

She noted that recently, their neighbouring village of Semotswane was connected to the sewerage pipeline and theirs left out and connection was also done in Tati Siding despite the fact that they were situated between the two villages.

She said, unlike in other villages where there were dustbins around and council trucks collected litter on a weekly basis, the arrangement was not there in their village and they were being asked to take their waste to the main

A1 junction where it also took time for the council to collect it. Ms Dorcus Masunga in Tati Siding complained that as retired citizens they were denied the opportunity to expand or renovate their houses through the turnkey SHHA program and were told to ask their children to do it on their behalf, despite the fact that they can afford it through their pensions.

In his response, Mr Guma said elderly people were allowed to ask their children to apply for the turnkey loan on their behalf because of their ages and based on the fact that the money had to be re-paid to benefit other members of the public.

Regarding poverty eradication programme, he promised to ask the minister responsible for the programme to come and adress a workshop in the area to clarify the processes.

Meanwhile, he informed them that Tati Siding had been divided into two wards and the changes would be effective as from 2014 general elections, adding that they should be ready for the changes and plan for them in terms of developing the two separate wards which would have different village development committees.  ENDS