04 Mar 2019

 Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development has applauded workers and students of Kgatleng brigade for taking it upon themselves to help the less privileged.

Ms Pearl Ramokoka said this at a community service day at Diponchi ward in Mochudi, where the ministry in collaboration with Kgatleng brigade painted a house and cleared grass as well as shrubs.

She said this was in line with Vision 2036, especially the second pillar of human and social development.

Ms Ramokoka said the house would give dignity to the recipients as they would have a place to call home, which would in turn become a safe haven for them.

“Having built this house, Kgatleng brigade has shown that they have Botho, which is another pillar of our nation,” she said.

Ms Ramokoka said the gesture would also help in social inclusion and quality of life.

“No one chooses to be poor and this will help in uplifting a person’s quality of life and also make them feel part of the community,” said Ms Ramokoka.

She further said this project would help the brigade students with character building and teamwork.

“It also teaches us social responsibility that one’s responsibility does not end with an individual, but rather people should serve the community they live in,” she said.

Ms Ramokoka said it was important to highlight that giving to the less privileged should be done with good faith and motive.

Project coordinator Mr Motswagole Tlhagwane said they started the project mid-2014 after visiting the Department of Social and Community Development at Kgatleng District Council.

He said they identified Ms Marure Pheto as someone in need of a shelter as she was staying at her parent’s house.

“She is one of the many people that are being helped by council with social safety nets,” he said.

He noted that Ms Pheto had a residential plot, which she had failed to develop over the years due to her life circumstances.

Mr Tlhagwane, who is also a Guidance and Counselling teacher at Kgatleng brigade said they came up with the idea of building her a house, a pit latrine using off cut bricks that their students were not using.

“We also raised P4 000 among ourselves and got various donations from construction companies around Kgatleng,” he said.

He noted that their plan was to finish building the house by the end of March, but were still short of door frames and window panes.

Mr Tlhagwane further said they would also install a ceiling and connect electricity to the house.

“I also want to appeal to Water utilities to help us with donating a standpipe to this yard. This plot is outside the water connection grid and we appeal to them to help us solve this problem,” he said.

Mr Tlhagwane also appealed for donations to fence the plot.

For her part, Kgatleng brigade deputy principal Ms Nametsang Gopolang said the school offered various programmes among them bricklaying, electrical, carpentry and wielding. She said the school had two campuses. ENDS