03 Dec 2020

Ghanzi District Council is in the process of sourcing funds to support and resuscitate Qabo poverty eradication projects that have collapsed due to a number of reasons.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele told Parliament that as part of the mitigation strategies to resuscitate the projects, psycho-social support would be offered to beneficiaries to promote group cohesion and capacity building. 

He said the beneficiaries would also be supported through procurement of their goods and services as well as close monitoring and supervision of their projects.

He explained that some of the challenges which led to the collapse of the projects included lack of proper management, lack of group cohesion and inadequate commitment by beneficiaries.

Mr Modukanele also said failure to maintain equipment contributed to the collapse of some projects such as sewing and welding.

He noted that the projects were funded on the understanding that they were sustainable and bankable.

He explained that the brick moulding project was targeted to supply bricks to contractors engaged by the council to construct destitute persons housing units, Remote Area Development Programme housing units and the Qabo community.

Furthermore, he said the bakery project was targeted to supply Qabo Primary School and the community. He said from 2014 to 2016, the project supplied bread to the primary school worth P276 720. Mr Modukanele noted that the carpentry project had a direct procurement agreement with the council to supply coffins for the vulnerable population. He noted that from 2014 to 2019 it was supported by council to the tune of over P1 million in sales.

He said the sewing project was targeted to supply school uniform to needy pupils, and that from 2014  to 2019, sales worth P464 112 were made. He said the welding project benefited various government departments, and that the project generated  over P140 000 for services provided.

Ghanzi North MP, Mr John Thiite had asked the minister if he was aware of the state of Qabo poverty eradication projects, what caused their collapse and if there were any plans to resuscitate them.

He also wanted to know mitigation strategies to be implemented to ensure the projects success. ends