16 May 2019

Government has taken a decision to introduce a single social register programme for all social welfare beneficiaries to allow for single beneficiation per programme.

This was revealed by Ipelegeng coordinator for Mogoditshane/Thamaga Sub-district, Mr Alfred Tumelo at the ongoing sub-council session when responding to councillors’ concern that many people were benefitting from more than one social welfare programme.

To validate the concern, Kubung councillor Mr Mmolotsi Phatsime expressed concern that Ipelegeng workers, particularly the elderly, were benefitting from Ipelegeng programme even though they also receive old age pension.

They also noted that some were benefitting from food rations under the social welfare office.

Cllr Phatsime stated that the practice was not fair as those who did that were denying other potential beneficiaries the opportunity to benefit from the programme. 

As a result, he argued that the same people were always hopping from one programme to the other while others were non-rotational beneficiaries.

Gabane North West councillor Mr Mokgotla Pule also buttressed Phatsime’s concerns, arguing that most people regarded Ipelegeng as permanent employment although some Ipelegeng workers were beneficiaries of other social welfare programmes such as Scorpions and old age pension.

“This is totally wrong,” he said.

He further said this resulted in endless demands for the government to increase the numbers of Ipelegeng slots country wide. 

Cllr Pule, therefore, demanded that this anomaly be corrected.

Gabane North East’s councillor Mr Ofentse Mareme concurred with other councillors, however, calling for the house to come up with a position paper to resolve what should be done in regards to Ipelegeng programme. 

Councillor Mareme further indicated that on top of multiple beneficiations, the supply of breakfast ration for Ipelegeng workers was marred with controversy almost everywhere. 

He said questions as to who should supply and criteria used to appoint bread suppliers had stirred infights for Village Development Committee (VDC)s as they were often blamed for favouritism. 

Cllr Mareme also questioned the hygiene of those who prepared the food as well as the environment where that food was prepared. 

Cllr Mareme also wanted to know who was responsible for  carrying out the inspection to ensure food safety.

Responding to councillors’s concerns Mr Tumelo explained that the single social register had since been started in the South Central which includes Kweneng, Southern and Kgatleng districts as a pilot project.

He said the programme would capture information of all people registered in different social welfare programmes. “The system will then be used to identify those with more than one registration. 

Those with double registrations or more will simply fall off and remain with only one programme under their name,” he said. “If successful, the programme will be rolled out countrywide,” he said.

On the issue of bread supply, Mr Tumelo acknowledged that it was a great challenge and his office had since resolved that they would be responsible for appointing suppliers to make life easier for VDC members. 

However, some councillors have since advised that the decision should not be made without consulting with VDC and dikgosi as well as all other relevant stakeholders. ENDs