24 Feb 2020

Human Resources Development Council (HRDC) has on Friday handed over a house to three Setsiba siblings who became orphaned after their mother committed suicide in 2012.

Speaking at the handover ceremony of a newly built and fully furnished two-bedroomed house, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security and also area MP Mr Kagiso Mmusi commended the staff as well as HRDC board of directors for not only providing shelter, but also bestowing some dignity on the family.

Minister Mmusi further indicated that currently, the country was battling many challenges such as hunger, poverty, disease and conflict, all of which he said required collective approach.

Therefore, he commended HRDC’s efforts for addressing one of the challenges, which he said was in line with national Vision 2036 of developing and strengthening families.

To the family, Mr Mmusi urged them to take care of their new house to symbolise unity.

He also encouraged the private sector to contribute significantly in uplifting lives in communities.

Again, he applauded the contractor for having completed the house on time and within budget.

Giving an overview of the project, HRDC chief executive officer Dr Raphael Dingalo said their organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was driven more by compassion and that they had been engaged in CSR activities throughout the country.

As a result, he said they had touched lives as far as Malatswai where they adopted a school and East Hanahai, where they donated ICT equipment.

HRDC has also donated equipment for special class at Bonnington South Junior Secondary School in Gaborone.
In Mmankgodi, he said they channelled their CSR efforts towards shelter because they thought it was of utter most importance, hence they chose a family that needed to be housed.

“We wanted a project that upon completion will unify the family,” he explained.

He further said unity was of paramount at HRDC because they were able to achieve targets they had set in unison.

Funds amounting to P300 000 were raised through a gala dinner  to build the house, where First Lady, Ms Neo Masisi was a guest speaker.

Dr Dingalo said the board also contributed bedding, a food basket, stove and crockery as well as an amount of P1 900 to the Setsiba siblings.

Remarking on the project, Mogoditshane/Thamaga senior assistant secretary, Mr Losika Mosarwa said the house was built at the tune of P175 000.

He said in July 27 last year, the site was officially handed to the contractor, who then completed the house in December the same year.

He however indicated that the house was yet to be connected with water and electricity, adding that those utilities had however already been paid for.

He urged all to play a meaningful role in alleviating poverty, stating that at the moment the sub-district had over 1 000 orphans and 579 registered destitute persons, out of which 53 were registered in Mmankgodi.

The siblings’ aunt, Ms Goitsemang Morebodi thanked HRDC staff for housing her younger sister’s children.

She explained that the family had gone through a lot of challenges after her sister committed suicide due to failure  to cope with the loss of their brother. ENDS