18 Jun 2020

Boteti councillors say lower scale public servants should have benefitted from COVID-19 food relief programme.

The councillors argued in a sub-council meeting in Letlhakane on Monday that lower scale public servants were adversely affected by COVID-19 lockdown but were not given assistance.

Councillor Keiketlile Gobotswang expressed concern that some families, with 10-15 family members and only one member employed as a public servant were not given the ration, though some of the family members had earned income through part-time jobs before lockdown. 

He also observed that some public servants overcommitted their salaries and remained with nothing to sustain their families.

Councillor Eric Sekausu of Xere emphasised that public servants were denied an opportunity to benefit from the food relief programme though they were severely affected. He also complained that food relief suppliers in Xere were not paid.

Councillor Kemoiponetse Kelatlhegile of Mokubilo/Mmeya said Mokubilo-Mmeya residents were dependent on Ipelegeng, which was currently engaging a limited number of people due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Councilor Gosetsemang Gosalamang of Kedia/Mokobaxane reiterated that the majority of Kedia residents survived through Ipelegeng. 

In response Boteti Sub-district Controller of Accounts, Ms Naomi Mphitlhang stated that all COVID-19 suppliers were paid except for those who had not yet submitted invoices. Ends