25 Jun 2019

Member of Parliament for Jwaneng-Mabutsane, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile says companies that have been engaged to do some development projects in villages should embark on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to assist communities.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Sese on June 24, Mr Ntlhaile said it was wrong for companies to only come and make profit, then leave without ploughing anything back to the communities in any way.

That, he said was particularly because CSR did not mean that such companies should spend all their profits in assisting the community, but could engage in small projects such as small office space.

He said that would go a long way in assisting government, who was constrained by various national needs.

Mr Ntlhaile thereby advised the Village Development Committee (VDC) to always engage companies that won tenders in their villages and negotiate with them to do something for the community.

On other issues, Mr Ntlhaile indicated that Sese village had grown beyond expectations, and now required major developments such as a police station with staff housing.

He said that would also help curb the reportedly high crime rate in the village.

He said the village could not get assistance from Jwaneng as the town was also in need.

On the four kilometre road that linked Sese to the Kanye-Jwaneng road, Mr Ntlhaile said such was supposed to have been completed last year, but he was informed by the relevant minister that it was delayed because of some disagreements between the main contractor and the subs.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Phenyo Kemmonye pleaded that government should come up with stringent measures against those who sold residential plots.

He said the rate at which residents of Sese, especially the youth sold their residential plots was disheartening, and that in most cases, such youth had no alternative of where they would stay after selling their plots.

Senior Assistant Council Secretary for Mabutsane Sub District, Mr Edwin Pheko indicated that the council could not run initiatives such as Ipelegeng at Kaduwe as the area was not even a settlement, but designated for ploughing.

He however, said currently, the council was assisting students from the area with free transport to school.

Mr Pheko was responding to call by the land overseer for the area, Mr Kelapile Sesianyane for the area to be provided with amenities and other government programmes.

Mabutsane Sub-Council chairperson, Mr Kgopolo Ramosesane on the other hand advised the VDC to consider using the constituency fund to address shortage of accommodation for public servants in the area.

That, he said would be in line with the objectives of the fund as it encouraged villages to prioritise on projects that could bring income.

Residents decried shortage of accommodation, especially for police officers, some of whom had long been posted to the village, but had not yet reported because of lack of accommodation. Ends