15 Mar 2020

The Kweneng District Development Committee (DDC) has challenged the District Health Management Team (DHMT) to rate their readiness to arrest cases of coronavirus or (COVID-19) in the district.

The DDC felt the DHMT’s report on its preparedness for COVID-19 was substandard.

“Let us be proactive than to be reactive to the situation,” advised Kweneng District Council deputy council secretary, Mr Eric Puskas.

He also advised the DHMT to come up with strategic ways of dealing with the issue and to empower the district leadership to help disseminate information by taking advantage of public forums and road blocks where they would be able to target more people.

The DHMT was also advised to come up with strategies to prevent the spread of the virus by putting in place measures that would reduce panic around communities.

It was further encouraged to conduct tests in health facilities where isolation areas would be availed for COVID19 cases.

Ms Tshegofatso Tlotlang, deputy matron for clinics in the district, assured the committee that they had stringent measures to guard against the spread of the virus.

In other issues, concern was raised about the delayed reconstruction of the Molepolole/Thamaga road that was said to have reached its life span.

Senior council secretary for Molepolole/Lentsweletau Administrative Authority (MAA), Mr Gofaone Kgabanyane said the explanation that the retendering of the project delayed its commencement was inappropriate.

Mr Kgabanyane said the tender could have been dealt with in six months, and was no longer invalid as it failed to be resolved in three years.

“As we are the body responsible for district development, it is important that we are provided with clear explanations why we are still receiving explanation provided in 2017 about the same roads project without new developments,” he said.

Ms Kefilwe Ndlovu explained that a decision was taken to write to the Ministerial Tender Committee (MTC) for approval of the tender cancellation due to delays caused by unforeseen circumstances.

Meanwhile, Kweneng Land Board secretary, Ms Ikgopoleng Shabane encouraged regular reporting by various organisations and departments operating within the district, saying it was vital as it helped provide information about district development.

“It is high time we understand the importance of reporting to the DDC. This provides an update on how services are provided to the community in the district and challenges that may have been encountered,” she said. Ends