25 Aug 2021

The decision by Tonota Sub-district to engage in mass review of beneficiaries under the Department of Social Welfare is meant to ensure efficient distribution of resources to deserving people. 

When addressing the virtual Tonota Sub-district Council meeting in Tonota on Monday council chairperson Mr Christjan Machokoto said 610 beneficiaries were recommended for termination from the 1 138 beneficiaries reviewed under the Tonota-Mandunyane cluster. 

He said the mass review ensured that only deserving beneficiaries were assisted in the sub-district. He said the review was done as per the provision of the Revised National Policy on Destitute Persons of 2002. 

Mr Machokoto further said the Department of Social Welfare provided support to 4 100 beneficiaries that included Destitute Persons, Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs). 

He told the house that the sub-district was currently providing services to 173 needy students at Technical and Vocational Colleges whom it provided with a living allowance of P 1 100 per month or P2.3 million of the council expenditure. Mr Machokoto said this had over stretched the Social Welfare vote, leading to a high deficit in council budget hence the decision not to asses and register for welfare support any new cases of needy students at Brigades and Vocational Collages. 

Regarding child protection, he said the sub-district had recorded 71 violations ranging from teenage pregnancy, defilement, rape as well as child neglect. He said these social ills had adverse impact on the growth and development of a child physically, emotionally and spiritually. He said the end result was poor performance in their education leading to dropping out of school. 

On other issues, Mr Machokoto said the Home Economics Division had registered a total of 25 early Childhood Care and Education Centres out of which 24 were licensed to operate as they had complied with the policy. He said the centres continued to experience a decrease in enrolment of pupils due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The department would continue to monitor compliance to both regulations and COVID-19 protocols.. On socio-economic empowerment programmes, he said the council has organised a four-week training programme in bakery and confectionery for 13 bakery beneficiaries from Tonota, Serule, Semotswane, Mandunyane and Borolong. 

“These beneficiaries will continue to be coached by Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) in Francistown,” he said. ENDS