28 Feb 2022

Selebi Phikwe region continues to record a drastic decline in COVID-19 positive cases, says the Mayor of Selebi Phikwe, Mr Lucas Modimana.

Addressing Councillors during the ongoing Selebi Phikwe Town Council full session, Mr Modimana said as of November 2021, cases declined to 25 cases per 100 000, hospitalisation and deaths also decreased. He said 2021 brought hope to the entire world mainly due to administration of COVID-19 vaccines, adding that 24 652 people had been vaccinated with 22 512 having taken all their doses in Selebi Phikwe.

Furthermore, he said, administration of booster doses was ongoing in town and as at February 18, 2 484 had received their doses.

He said currently 4 164 children aged between 12-17 years had been vaccinated.

“The country is still in the midst of the pandemic which continues to pose challenges socially and economically,” he said.

He urged councillors to encourage the community to get their booster doses and challenged them to engage the community on concepts to adopt towards building a resilient attitude on combating the pandemic.

On other issues, Mr Modimana commended the teaching fraternity in town for continuing to perform exceptionally well.

Amidst the limiting and frustrating teaching and learning environment occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic, he said, Selebi Phikwe schools continued to display resilience and survival.

During the 2021 academic year, 10 out of 11 primary schools scored above 80 per cent, well above the national target of 76 per cent, he said.

Four junior secondary schools out of six, he said, were among the nation’s top ten best performing schools.

However, he said, the remaining two schools although not in the top 10 also did well at 54 per cent and 51 per cent respectively.

He implored relevant stakeholders to introduce incentives that would encourage schools to uphold academic excellence. ENDS