21 Jun 2020

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse has warned against double-dipping during the second phase of COVID-19 food distribution.

Addressing the Selebi Phikwe leadership during the Vice President’s meeting with the COVID-19 teams and the town leadership on June 19, Mr Autlwetse said issues of double-dipping were disturbing and thwarted government’s effort to assist deserving members of the community who were adversely affected by the lockdown.

He said government did not condone double-dipping, hence urged the council to ensure that this challenge does not reoccur in the second phase of food distribution.

Mr Autlwetse urged the council to focus solely on the 7 189 households that qualified for food relief in the first phase during the period of assessment.

He said they should also take into account the fact that the lockdown had been lifted while a majority of businesses such astransport operators, small businesses, textile industries, bars andother liquor stores had been permitted to operate.

The Assistant Minister, therefore, said he expected the number of those deserving food baskets in the second phase to drastically go down.

On other issues Mr Autlwetse commended Selebi Phikwe council for the job well done in preparing primary schools for opening post COVID-19 lockdown, adding that the council did exceptionally well in executing the project for installation of hand wash basins and maintenance of ablution blocks.

He said the council purchased the hand wash basins from a local company in Selebi Phikwe and in addition engaged artisans from the town to connect the basins and maintain the toilets.

He commended the council for supporting local businesses and using the opportunity to empower the people of Selebi Phikwe who lost their jobs as a result of the closure of the BCL mine in 2016.

“We should jealously guard against buying goods from outside the country and empower local businesses,” he said.

Touching on the Ipelegeng programme, Mr Autlwetse said the programme was subject to review in order for it to address today’s challenges.

He said the programme had been temporarily suspended in order to re-engineer it, adding that where necessary Ipelegeng workers would be recruited.

He commended the town council  for engaging 233 Ipelegeng workers to assist in keeping schools in Selebi Phikwe clean as COVID-19 called for hygiene in schools.

For his part, the deputy town clerk Mr Oganne Gontse informed Mr Slumber Tsogwane and his entourage that the council incurred some challenges during food baskets distribution, decrying double-dipping.

He said the council observed that there was double-dipping across the districts, adding that some people relocated from cattle posts to town for the purpose of getting another food ration.

He said some people gave officials false information during assessment, resulting in some undeserving people benefitting.

He recommended the need for national inter-linked data basis between councils to regulate issues of double-dipping.

Mr Gontse further informed the meeting that the council targeted the assessment of 7 189 households being the number of those that qualified in phase one of food relief.

He said in phase two, households would be issued with vouchers stipulating the type of food commodity to purchase, adding that they would not include any alcoholic beverages. ENDS