23 Jul 2019

Since the commencement of the poverty eradication programme in Letlhakeng sub district, 563 beneficiaries have been fully funded in alternative packages for 372 projects. 

When delivering the speech to mark the last session of Letlhakeng Sub-council meeting on July 22, the sub-council chairperson Mr Thomas Batlhophi said the programme faced challenges such as lack of market, as beneficiaries depended largely on government departments. 

He said some beneficiaries abandoned projects for informal employment. 

He further said out of the 372 projects, 228 projects were operational, 142 were non-operational, two had failed, while 23 were successful. 

Mr Batlhophi said there was a backlog of 123 beneficiaries awaiting training and funding and a total of 73 incomplete packages. 

He added that the backlog was caused by continuous assessment of beneficiaries and enrolment into the programme without sufficient funding to cover their projects, adding that the department was dedicated to eradicating the backlog. 

He also said they would continue to monitor the projects to ensure sustainability and  improved livelihoods. On social welfare cases, Mr Batlhophi said there were currently 22 reported cases relating to abuse of children  including defilement, murder and sexual molestation. 

He said some of the cases were still being investigated by the police, while others had been registered with the courts of law and some were awaiting trial. 

“We should bear in mind that in the previous financial year the department managed to resuscitate child protection committees in all the villages and the Sub-district Child Protection Committee whose responsibilities include attending to issues concerning children in their area,” he said. Mr Batlhophi said the department would continue to equip the committees through meetings and workshops for them to better play their role. ENDS