22 Sep 2019

Kgalagadi District Council chairperson Mr Meleko Thumpe has commended councillors for their concerted efforts in bringing developments to the district.

Speaking during the closing of the Kgalagadi District full council session, Mr Thumpe said since being elected into office in 2014, the councillors have strived to be a formidable force and put aside their party ‘colours’ to deal with issues at hand. 

Issues they dealt with, he said, included shortage of water for both human consumption and livestock, human/wildlife conflict, maintenance of gravel roads between settlements, as well as malnutrition, and the poor academic results. 

However, he said some still remained a challenge and if completely dealt with they could go a long way in transforming the local economy. 

He noted that government introduced the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) in 2015 to stimulate economic growth and diversification as well as create jobs, where the district benefitted substantially.

Mr Thumpe said through the programme, the district was funded to construct two customary courts at Struitzendam and Zutshwa while two more were still under construction at Vaalhoek and Rappelspan.

Still under the ESP, classroom blocks and toilets in Bokspits, Nhake, Lehututu, Mahusane, Khawa and Lokgwabe primary schools were built. He said 59 nurse’ houses were also constructed. 

Other high-value projects that materialised under their term, he said, was the Kang infrastructure project, Matsheng access roads, Hukuntsi revenue office, construction of the Tsabong Unified Secondary School and the estab;ishment of Kang Anti-poaching unit.

On the social front, he noted that strides were made to promote dignified lives for the less privileged community members. 

Such developments, he said, included the provision of 285 housing units for remote area dwellers beginning 2014 to date, where Tsabong Sub-district benefitted 192 while Hukuntsi Sub-district benefitted 93. He said proposals had been made to build more houses in the current financial year. 

On adult learning, he said 816 had been enrolled for the Adult Basic Education Programme. However, he said, the number was not satisfactory and called upon councillors to encourage people to come forth and learn. 

On skills development training, he said some of the community members were equipped with skills in beadwork, hat-making, nursery, beekeeping, poultry production and textile.

Mr Thumpe said special education classes were offered in three schools where 69 students were currently benefitting from Nhake, Makgakgane and Mahusane primary schools.

On youth development fund, Mr Thumpe noted that 615 projects had been funded to the tune of P54 million since the programme started in 2009 and had been able to create employment opportunities for 556 youths in the district. 

He said some projects had collapsed, but 87 per cent were successful. However, he said the 50 per cent loan recovery remained a challenge as some of the youth failed to service their loans. Ends