28 Jul 2020

The South East District council has spent over P30 million in the corona virus pandemic related issues.

The district council chairperson Mr Oshima Peloewetse told a full council session on July 27 that the money was spent during the national lockdown on food hampers, procurement of agricultural produce and feeding the district’s 17412 approved households.

Other costs were incurred through engagement of private transporters, remuneration of temporary social workers and maintenance of primary schools, to make them compliant to COVID-19 health protocols.

“COVID-19 is not only deadly in terms of human lives, but is ravaging economies,” said Mr Peloewetse.

Therefore, he said there was need for the community to guard against the virus as the effect would be severe while calling on the south east community to avoid illegal crossing of the border.

“Just one person who crosses the border illegally may contract coronavirus and cause loss to many lives and ruin our economy,” said Mr Peloewetse.

Regarding the compliance of schools to COVID-19 protocols, Councilor Peloewetse said all primary schools in the district underwent maintenance that was completed before schools reopened.

He said the maintenance was mainly concerning toilets, installation of hand washing basins and water tanks.

Councilor Peloewetse said only installation of water tanks was lagging behind and he was hopeful that it would be completed by August this year.

Still on COVID-19 impact on the district, Mr Peloewetse said compliance of businesses, institutions, private and public schools was checked to determine readiness.

Furthermore, Councilor Peloewetse told the council that following the suspension of arts and culture activities, there was funds provision to cushion the effects, saying the allocations for COVID-19 relief for Ramotswa was P362 000 while Tlokweng was P328 500.

Furthermore, Mr Peloewetse said in terms of COVID-19 wage subsidy for arts and culture practitioners, Tlokweng received 108 applications, of which only 65 applications were approved.

In Ramotswa, 69 applications were received and only 55 applications approved.

“Majority of the applications were rejected on grounds that applicants benefited from the BURS wage subsidy,” he added. ends