13 Mar 2019

Kweneng District Council (KDC) is still reeling in shock after the bizarre incident that befell pupils at Lempu Junior Secondary School in Salajwe.

Council chairperson Mr Jeffery Sibisibi said this when addressing the first session of the ordinary full KDC meeting on March 11. 

The council chairperson said they were still awaiting findings from medical experts on the cause of the rare condition.

Commenting on operational efficiency of the council, he stated that the staffing situation at KDC was a cause for concern as adequate human resource was critical in ensuring that services were effectively delivered to communities.

Of most concern is the non-filling of vacant positions of key personnel, citing that currently Letlhakeng Sub-district council had a vacant position of senior assistant council secretary, while there are 47 other vacant posts in the whole district against a total establishment of 1 684.

He indicated that in an endeavour to improve operational efficiency, KDC has finally managed to identify bye law as well as social and community development staff, who will use motorbikes and quad bikes. 

He said the officers had been legally licensed to ride the bikes after successful training.

On other issues, Mr Sibisibi expressed concern over overcrowding in schools in the district, especially junior secondary schools. 

He said enrolment for Form One was high in a number of schools with the most affected being Mogoditshane, Ledumadumane, Mphuthe and Mahupu unified secondary schools. 

He said overcrowding had also affected boarding facilities, where such services were provided.

On a positive note, the council chairperson noted that academic performance at both primary and junior secondary schools in the district were showing some improvements in terms of quality.  

He nevertheless stated that despite this noticeable improvement, the district continued to record poor results from the three senior secondary schools.

However, the district, Molepolole village in particular, has managed to produce three of the six exceptional students who attained merit nationally in the recent Junior Certificate results. 

The exceptional students are from Dithejwane, Motswasele and Kwena Sereto junior secondary schools.

Presenting the District Development Plan, KDC secretary, Mr Goleba Kgari said that district planners had agreed to prioritise the construction of Letlhakeng/Kaudwane road as it was seen as an important link for communities of Salajwe, Khudumelapye, Kaudwane and Sorilatholo. 

He said the development would unlock the tourism potential of the district and create numerous job opportunities.

Among the top five proposed development projects is the design and construction of North South Carrier Phase II to Molepolole as the project will improve village water supply. 

Construction of a mini hospital in Letlhakeng is also a top priority as well as the construction of Molepolole Police Station, together with 150 housing units and the construction of Molepolole sanitation project. 

Molepolole remains the only large village in the country without a sewerage scheme, which is affecting the development of other infrastructural developments. ENDS