20 Feb 2020

A national social protection framework will be developed during 2020/21 with the aim to harmonise social protection programmes and boost efficiencies, says Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele.

Responding to a question from Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, Mr Modukanele said the Revised National Policy on Destitute Persons would also be reviewed in the 2020/21 financial year.

He said the review would be done holistically and would also include the amount that destitute persons qualified for.  

Mr Modukanele further noted that between 2018 and 2019, 62 beneficiaries were de-registered in the Francistown South constituency.

He said the main reasons were that of the 62 beneficiaries, 22 either found employment or had alternative means of livelihood. He said the whereabouts of 32  beneficiaries could not be established and that eight had relocated to their places of origin.

The assistant minister explained that the main thrust of the destitute policy was to ensure that economically disadvantaged members of the community were afforded a dignified life through provision of social safety nets.

Mr Mmolotsi had asked the assistant minister to state when the destitute policy would be reviewed, especially the part that stipulated the amount that destitute persons qualified for. He also wanted to know the number of destitute persons that were de-registered in the Francistown South constituency between 2018 and 2019, including the main reasons for the de-registration. ENDS