26 Nov 2020

The Introduction of new guidelines by Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) has resulted in a sharp increase of funded projects. 

Selebi Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) Mayor, Mr Lucas Modimana told councilors during the ongoing full council meeting that since the introduction of new guidelines, CEDA-Selebi Phikwe branch had financed a total of 24 new projects to the tune of P31.6 million across sectors.

He said entrepreneurs had shown interest across the entire region, adding that there had been a sharp increase in the projects funded to date compared to last year’s P14.6 million.

Furthermore he said since the launch of Letlhabile product in May, the agency received more applications in the SPEDU region as evidenced by 1669 applications.

He said the product had stimulated economic activities in the region as most people managed to get working capital for the micro and informal projects. 

However Mr Modimana highlighted that the agency had been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic thus some of the financed projects especially those in manufacturing sector had been severely affected.

“These are paper and plastic products, sanitary ware, fiber glass products, lighting, personal protective equipment and water purification projects,” he said.

He explained that there had been a delay in commissioning some projects as suppliers were not able to enter the country due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

In light of the effects of COVID-19, he said CEDA had extended the repayment dates and given hospitality projects repayment holidays as they were most hit by COVID-19.

Mr Modimana went to on to explain that COVID-19 remained a threat to life as such everyone should help the government combat the pandemic. “I urge the community to introspect on their lifestyles in this era. For instance, do we adhere to protocols, are the trips we undertake necessary, are the parties we engage in necessary, are those trips to the shops necessary,” he asked rhetorically.

Mr Modimana warned that the war against COVID-19 pandemic was still far from being over.

He said there had been a significant reduction in government revenue because the demand for major exports had weakened, adding that this state of affair had the potential to jeopardise future service provision given the uncertainties surrounding the future budgetary provisions.

“I sadly notice that some members of the community are continually engaging in the activities that compromise COVID-19 health protocols. Some of us still attend parties, full weddings, too many people attend funerals, there are also too many people going to bars and unregulated church activities where a church can go on for five hours in one day as well as unnecessary travelling and frequenting shopping centres,” observed Mr Modimana.

He also briefed councilors that as of November 20, 104 positive cases had been reported with 75 recoveries and 29 active cases in Selebi Phikwe.

Because of the increase in positive cases, he said education centre was under refurbishment with a total of 32 beds to cater for COVID-19 positive cases.

Regarding the sentinel surveillance survey which started in October, he said the survey targeted 1 320 clients for three months but to date 503 clients had been covered.

Mr Modimana said so far four positive cases have been recorded from the sentinel surveillance.  Ends