23 Jul 2020

Residents of Lotlhakane East have been informed about consistent drug availability in health facilities contrary to allegations that there was shortage of drugs.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in the village recently, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Lemogang Kwape also refuted reports that the Ipelegeng Programme had been cancelled.

Dr Kwape, who is Kanye South MP, explained that the programme had been temporarily halted as a way of adhering to COVID-19 health protocols. The programme would also be improved, he said.  

  On constituency funds, Dr Kwape dismissed claims they had been withdrawn and were available. 

  He revealed that funds for the planned bridge between Letlhakane East and Gamae settlement had been allocated and that plans for its construction were underway.Residents heard that Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) had reviewed its guidelines. Collateral was no longer required for loans of up to P50 million  and instead  security would be provided through personal surety and security based on the value of assets funded by the agency. He therefore encouraged  residents to take advantage of such developments.

Dr Kwape said Parliament had passed a bill to ensure that all government and state-owned enterprises’ tenders up to the value of P10 million were reserved for 100 per cent citizen-owned small, medium and micro enterprises with a maximum annual turnover of P10 million. Turning to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Kwape warned that the coronavirus was deadly hence the need to follow stipulated health protocols.

He implored residents to ensure that the protocols were followed even when boarding taxis.

In response to some grievances, Dr Kwape said he was aware that there was shortage of police officers in the area. He indicated that officers had been deployed and their accommodation was still being sorted out. The Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Kabelo Mogwe had raised concern about the rising crime rate as a result of shortage of police officers in the village.

Mr Mogwe also decried  under-utilisation of the cemetery as it had not been fenced. The Kanye Administrative Authority had the responsibility to fence it, build an ablution block and clear the access road to the yard, he said.ends