07 Apr 2021

The Ministry Local Government and Rural Development will continue to engage on the feasibility of engaging COVID-19 scorpions. 

The Minister Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Eric Molale, said this when answering a question in Parliament.

He said a positive impact had been realised by the scorpions initiative and their efforts in public institutions through public education and compliance monitoring. 

However, he stated that the scorpions were engaged on a fixed term contract of 10 months up to March 31 this year. 

“It should be noted that the decision to engage the scorpions was made under a constrained fiscal position.  This position has not changed and if anything, it has worsened as a result of the pandemic,” he stated.

Therefore, he said the ministry was still exploring possible avenues to come up with a workable solution, given the economic challenges as well as rising infections.

He said the effort had been ongoing since December 2020 and that he was hopeful it would succeed.

He was answering Maun Wes MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando who had asked the minister to state if there were plans to extend contracts of employees engaged to curb spread of the COVID-19 virus such as the COVID-19 scorpions. 

He said t the risk of spread was much higher than it was at the time they were engaged. ENDS