01 Aug 2019

The Director and Founder of Walk of Hope, Ms Theriso Motsemeng is pleading for financial support for 10-year-old Tumo Kgopana’s P150 000 operation scheduled for early October.

The plea was made during breakfast networking forum organised by Walk of Hope in Molepolole on July 30, where different stakeholders, including members of the business community converged to discuss, among others, various challenges. 

Tumo, born with autism, will be leaving for India on September 29, where he is scheduled to undergo an operation.

Ms Motsemeng said although the operation had been scheduled, the family had not yet been able to secure funds for Tumo’s medical expenses.

“We have a lineup of fundraising events which include among others, a sponsored walk and a fundraising dinner with the hope to secure funds ,” she stated. 

She called for good samaritans to come forward to support the family, to avoid postponement of the little boy’s operation which she said could have been done two years ago, but was hindered lack of funds. 

Autism, is “a developmental disorder that is characterised by difficulty in social interactions and communication and restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behaviour”.

Meanwhile, the Director of Trade and Consumer Affairs, Ms Seipati Olweny, briefed the gathering about the 2013 government business reforms, promoting efficiency and effectiveness of government processes to facilitate investors by reducing the cost and time of doing business.

She said the ministry was currently reviewing the Trade Act and Industrial Development Act to improve ease of doing business, adding that the reviews would include limiting licences to activities with immediate health and safety concerns whereas the rest of the business activities would only require registration. 

Mr Kagiso Sekokonyane, Private Secretary to Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research Science and Technology and Patron of Walk of Hope, Mr Moiseraele Goya urged the community to work towards assisting Ms Motsemeng’s initiative to improve the lives of the vulnerable, especially children.

 “Your devotion, commitment and dedication towards this endeavour is highly appreciated in bringing hope to the hopeless,” he said. He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she continues to get from the business community.

Ms Motsemeng, on behalf of Walk of Hope, handed over 10 glucometers, machines to Kweneng East District Health Management Team. Ends