02 Aug 2022

Residents of Artesia and Leshibitse in the Kgatleng District have been implored to come up with ways to overcome economic and social hardships occasioned by COVID-19.

Addressing kgotla meetings at the two villages, Kgatleng District Council chairperson, Mr Daniel Molokwe told residents that prices for food communities had gone up hence the need to find ways of tackling the economic hardships for survival.

Mr Molokwe also apprised them about the slow-paced development projects due to unpredicted expenditure that catered for COVID-19 vaccines and other programmes that included feeding the population during lockdowns that further drained the government coffers.

He said government prioritised saving lives hence all financial resources were channelled towards that course.

“The President prioritised saving our small population from COVID-19 and we are hoping to come back better and stronger post this pandemic,” he said.

The chairperson further informed residents that council was currently coming up with ways to create revenue streams and minimise dependency on Revenue Support Grant from Central Government.

The proposed initiatives include strengthening collection of staff houses rentals, ensuring that advertisement inventory in the district paid off to council as well as collection through bye-law fines.

Other initiatives covered the introduction of some fees for hawkers licensing and tender documents, which he said was the mainstay for rural economies.

“All these are intended to increase our revenue streams and reduce dependence from the main revenue support grant which every council looks up to,” he said.

Furthermore, he pointed out that council authorities had revised measures to cut expenditure on transport costs owing to water-tight budget before the council.

In their comments, residents welcomed government’s decision to prioritise saving lives during the pandemic.

Kgosi George Thwane of Artesia commended council chairperson for his reappointment, noting that it showed confidence in him.

He also expressed happiness towards the installation of streetlights in his village and called upon the Kgatleng district council to relocate the Matimela impounding kraal that was in the middle of the village, as it was a health hazard.

Kgosi Thwane further requested council to maintain internal roads.

For his part, Artesia VDC chairperson, Mr John Rankale called on the district council to assist the committee to build a slaughter house to increase revenue streams for the committee. Mr Rankale further requested government to increase VDC members allowance, extend the village library and increase quota of Ipelegeng employees.

In Leshibitse, Kgosi Tosh Kgotlele appreciated challenges faced by government, but was of the view that COVID-19 should not be used as a scapegoat for failure to deliver. He implored residents to adjust to current hardships and come up with new ways of sustaining themselves.

Kgosi Kgotlele called for electrification of the local community hall and for council to empower VDCs through monitoring and supervision of their projects.

VDC chairperson, Mr Obonye Bae complained about tenants that owed the committee huge sums of money. He appealed to council to assist the committee to come up with sustainable projects to raise revenue for the committee. ends