17 Feb 2021

A total of 14 out of 22 day care centres in the Tonota Sub-district have been licensed to operate this year. 

Addressing the first 2021 sub- council meeting Monday, chairperson sub-district council, Mr Chrisjan Machokoto said the other remaining eight had not yet met the licensing requirements and were not operational even though they shall be supported accordingly.

He explained that the Sub- council would continue visiting centres to ensure compliance to the COVID-19 protocols.

Mr Machokoto, who is also the councillor for Tonota Central, said the operational day care centres provided required services though they registered a decline in the number of children as most parents did not register their children due to economic challenges associated with COVID-19, inability to pay fees or for fear of children contracting COVID-19 at school.

He explained that the council had resuscitated the day care centre association for the sub- district to enable centre managers to share experiences and ideas and to be a mouth piece for the members in common matters of interest. 

“Mitigating the negative impact of COVID-19 on young children requires strategic multi-sectorial approaches in health, nutrition, security and protection. 

I therefore encourage you to support all centres so they come to full operation,” he added.

On social and community development projects, Councillor Machokoto explained that the sub-district provided welfare services for 4 403 beneficiaries , 1 296 of whom were registered permanent destitute persons, 280 temporary destitute persons, 1 594 needy students, 217 children in need of care, 24 community home-based care patients and 992 orphans. 

He said the beneficiaries were assisted with food baskets and school necessities, adding that due to budgetary constraints, needs of some of the beneficiaries were not adequately met even though the basics were provided.

He said the sub-district purchased private clothing for orphans during December with a budgeted allocation over P1 million and a total of 992 children were targeted, but only 901 turned up. 

Councillor Machokoto said the remaining beneficiaries were issued with vouchers at a later date when they reported from vacation.

Regarding social upliftment, Mr Machokoto told the councillors that the sub-district experienced heavy rains in December, which resulted in floods across the sub-district, causing damages to property and claiming three lives

He said the district disaster management committee managed to respond timeously to the incidents and provided the necessary relief and a total of 67 households across the sub-district were affected. 

He said Foley was the hardest hit with 42 cases and 13 households evacuated to Foley Primary School from December 19 to 29, pending subsiding of rain water at their yards. 

He explained that 15 households were assisted with tents while 34 were assisted with food baskets. 

However, he said he was saddened that eight households lost a total of 172 small stock and that the victims were mainly beneficiaries of LIMID and poverty eradication programmes, adding that three households lost 27 tswana chickens in total.

With regards to damage to public infrastructure, Councillor Machokoto explained that the Motloutse Bridge was submerged by the floods, leading to the road closure for a day while awaiting the water level to recede and structural assessments to be conducted.

“I am pleased to inform you that on the 20^th December, 2020 the road was open for use and I am informed that plans for maintenance are underway,” he added. On civil and national registration, the chairperson said the Department of Civil and National Registration continued to renew expired national identity cards and issue duplicates for the lost cards. 

He said for this quarter, the sub- district had issued a total of 753 cards, adding that services at the Civil and National Registration were now rendered on appointment basis. 

“Clients book for slots for their Omang renewals, a process that is meant to enable the department to comply with COVID-19 protocols.

Registration for new applicants is still suspended until further notice. 

The department continues to do outreach programmes as an effort to equally reduce congestion in the office,” he added.  

On primary education services, Councillor Machokoto said the core-curricular activities were ongoing in all the 20 primary schools, which had an enrollment of 13 134 pupils while pre-primary learners had not yet resumed classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The council chairperson also briefed the session on the upgrading of the Semotswane, Mandunyane, Shashemooke, Borolong, Chadibe, Mathangwane gravel road to bitumen standard. 

He explained that the construction of the 65-kilometres gravel road was at tender preparation stage, adding that due to the current economic constraints, the project would  not include the Semotswane interchange and the bypass, but would include access roads to Makobo and Natale. 

He explained that the sub-district was working with the consultant to prepare the documents with the original scope, thereafter it would be advertised. ends