21 Jun 2020

Maun Administration Authority (MAA) chairperson, Mr Vepaune Moreti has appealed to small businesses to cooperate with the sub-council.

Mr Moreti acknowledged, during a media briefing in Maun on June 18, that the council’s recent decision to move small businesses operating in front of shops and walkways to some identified spaces was not well received.

He said some accused North West District Council of not supporting the informal sector, stressing however, that the sub-council was committed to improving the informal sector.

He said the council was working with an association for small businesses in Maun to improve the informal sector as well as improve the Maun outlook.

Mr Moreti observed that some small businesses in Maun operated in front of supermarkets, though selling the same items with them, which was a concern to those supermarkets.

Some businesses, he said, were situated on road reserves and parking areas, which was risky and a concern to drivers.

He noted that the space marked by the council, both at old and new malls, would allow social distancing, which was critical in this coronavirus era.

On other matters, Mr Moreti said the council had hired about 300 SHE officers, who will be responsible for COVID-19 compliance such as hand washing and temperature taking in schools and dikgotla.

The council, he said, had also employed about 850 cleaners for all primary schools, 144 cleaners for junior schools and 23 for the senior school.

He said 27 primary schools had hand wash basins successfully installed, while those for 13 schools were to be completed in a few days time.

He said purchasing and erection of jojo tanks and maintenance of toilets was complete in most schools, except for three primary schools to be complete in a few days time.

He however said construction of new toilets was at an initial stage in some primary schools.

Mr Moreti said the regional District Health Management Team was last week on an assessment exercise to determine the level of compliance of Maun schools before their re-opening today. ENDS