17 Dec 2019

The Deputy District Commissioner for Jwaneng, Mr Lesang Kgomoetsile said it was not entirely true that all Youth Development Programme (YDF) funded projects failed to service their loans because the projects were performing poorly.

Responding to comments by some councillors after the presentation of the District Development Committee report during the Jwaneng council forum recenly, Mr Kgomoetsile said that there were instances where youth just failed to pay back the loan component of their funding because they were aware that the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development was powerless to take stern action against them.

He said earlier this year, his office called a meeting of all the youth that had been funded to establish reasons why they failed to pay, adding it became apparent that most of them were just reluctant. He said there was need to take a stern action against those who deliberately failed to repay the loans

.For her part, Ms Malebogo Basima from the office of the District Commissioner indicated that most youth whose businesses collapsed cited high rentals, saying that as soon as the grace period of their funding expired, they failed to pay rentals and ended up being evicted.

Councillor Tshepo Mothulwe had suggested that if possible, the youth should be funded for projects they want to embark on as a way of trying to curb the high rate of projects collapse.

He said that the other problem was that most youth in Jwaneng engaged in projects that were not conducive to their environment, which made it difficult to market or support them.

He advised that where possible, the council and other government departments should support youth projects. He said that this was because they also had an interest that the youth service their loans.

Deputy Mayor, Mr Themba Pema also advised parents that it was their responsibility to encourage their children to pay back their loans, especially where there was evidence that their projects were doing well.

Meanwhile during a recent meet and greet dinner, the newly elected Mayor, Ms Olga Ditsie expressed her discomfort at the state of aesthetics of Jwaneng township, saying it was not reflective of the towns reputation.

She said that Jwaneng was globally renowned for producing the best diamonds by value which often attracted high profile visitors such as heads of states and top celebrities, adding that it was unfortunate that the town itself did not sparkle as its product.

She said that it was therefore upon all stakeholders in town to collaborate and make the town better. ENDS