13 Feb 2020

Measures have been put in place to address any eventuality regarding novel coronavirus in Kgalagadi District, Tsabong Sub-district Council chairperson has revealed

Mr Ronald Baitsewe told a sub-council session on Wednesday that even though Kgalagadi was considered a low risk area, the District Health Management Team (DHMT) did not want to take chances.

For this reason, plans were put in place to step up surveillance, screening and interventions.

Health management team also met daily to update emergency preparedness and responses.

Mr Baitsewe  said an out-patient section within Tsabong Primary Hospital had been identified as a point of entry and was ready to receive any suspect case, saying information materials had also been availed for the public to learn about the virus.

He stated that the outbreak of novel corona-virus had claimed many lives in China.

The virus, he said, posed a serious threat to the country, hence the need to be vigilant at all times irrespective of the district risk level.

On other issues, Mr Baitsewe said Kgalagadi continued to grapple with poor academic results in schools since 2014.

He said all 25 primary schools in the area attained 60.9 per cent in 2019, which was below a national target of 80 per cent. 

At junior secondary level, he said the results reflected no improvement registering 26.7 per cent, which was below the 50 percent national target.

Mr Baitsewe said as for the senior secondary results, there was a steady improvement from 13.7 per cent in 2017 to 19.9 per cent in 2019.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to work together in proping up performance, despite resource constraints.

He stated that government had introduced programmes and policies to improve education nationwide, citing primary school feeding programme introduced in 2017 where eggs, fruits and vegetables were offered.

In April, the menu would further include fresh meat, canned beef, chicken, beef mince, fish and vegetables.

“We believe that when implemented, the change will add value to our menu and assist in encouraging retention of learners,” he said.

Mr Baitsewe said the changes would create business opportunities for the community to supply schools.

On infrastructure development, Mr Baitsewe said the 2020/2021 budget took into account the capacity constraints in the economy that impeded implementation of projects.

Thus government had budged for only ongoing projects in critical sectors. Such projects, he said, were on water, energy, roads and information communication technology as they were key economic drivers which supported the transformation agenda.

In an interview, Bray/Boshoek councilor, Mr Lawrence Tsebeng said the poor schools results were a cause for concern and called for strategic interventions to address the situation. 

Mr Tsebeng noted that Bray had no land as it was encircled by ranches, hence limited developments and residents could not embark on farming. He called on government to seriously consider buying land for the people.

Draaihoek Makopong councilor, Mr Moses Chimbombi called for innovative water reticulation strategies to be put in place to avail water for the people.

He also called on civil servants to ensure timely implementation of government projects.

He cited the small stock abattoir and the Tsabong mini stadium which he said were running behind schedule. ENDs