01 Dec 2020

 Sexual exploitation and abuse of a girl child remains a burning issue that warrants targeted collaborative stakeholder interventions among child care service providers, says North East District (NED) chairperson, Ms Florah Mpetsane.

Speaking during a full council meeting in Masunga November 30 , Ms Mpetsane said the district had registered 32 cases of defilement, most of which were committed by close family members and relatives.She, however, highlighted that home environment was unsafe for a child emphasising that this called for alternative care such as institutional or foster care which were limited.

Councilor Mpetsane stated that the district had placed 24 children in various places of safety and foster care upon realising that children lived in an unsafe environment.

The chairperson said there was need for robust community education on child protection issues for the community to actively partake in condemning and reporting the abuse of children.

On other issues, Ms Mpetsane explained that since the start of the pandemic, NED recorded 77 cases of COVID-19 while Francistown registered a total of 535 cases.

She indicated that as of June to September 2020 a total of 1 354 compliance inspections were conducted in the district where 928 were in compliance with COVID-19 protocols while 426 did not comply.

She said most common issues of non-compliance were lack of temperature screening, no registers and improper wearing of masks.Councilor Mpetsane said government came up with programmes such as Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan geared towards resuscitating the economy.

On issues of farming, Ms Mpetsane stated that the district agricultural office had received 15 tons of Sephala seeds in preparation of the 2020/21 ploughing season whereas millet and cowpeas would be dispatched in December. 

She said herbicides would be provided for subsistence farmers adding that the maximum hectorage for 100 percent subsidy under ISPAAD was four hectares.

Ms Mpetsane stated that the shoulder construction and resealing of Mulambakwena Ramokgwebana road was at 26 percent against the expected 42 per cent. ends