23 Nov 2022

Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi North has commended the newly revamped Ipelegeng Skills Development Component (ISDC) programme, saying it would revive rural economies and create job.

In her contribution to the debate on the State-of-the-Nation Address, Ms Talitha Monnakgotla, who is also Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said the overarching aim of the project was to facilitate beneficiaries and allow them to go into better employment opportunities, create jobs, employ others and graduate from poverty.

The objective of the programme, which was launched last month in Mogobane, is to develop and implement the skills development component for Ipelegeng on construction projects and equip beneficiaries with occupational, entrepreneurship and life skills.

Ms Monnakgotla praised the upgrading of subordinate authorities and said the move would facilitate speedy service delivery.

She decried the poor road networks linking rural settlements in Kgalagadi, saying they were making efforts to bring service to the people even harder.

Ms Monnakgotla pleaded with government to consider setting up a water treatment plant to deal with high levels of salty water in her area.

She applauded the Ncojane/ Macheng water management project, which she said was going well and had passed the first stage.

She said the Zutshwa salt plant was not doing well and appealed to government through the Rural Development Council to partner with agencies such as LEA to grow the business idea and make it more profitable.

She said the plant was a potential business hub.

She said the rural settlements in her constituency were lagging behind as far as technological development was concerned since they did not have connections to radio and television signals.

She however applauded efforts made through the digital transformational initiative SmartBots with some village kgotla and schools connected to the internet.

Ms Monnakgotla, however, praised the revised Artificial Insemination (AI) programme as a welcome development that would help farmers improve the quality of their breeds.

She appealed to government to consider at the earliest opportunity opening the Phuduhudu AI camp or provide a mobile AI camp for farmers in the area.

She said recurring veldt fires were affecting grazing areas, which were already minimal due to the growing wildlife management areas.

She also appealed to government to revive the KgomoKhumo initiative to arrest the rampant stock theft in the area.

Ms Monnakgotla applauded efforts made by First Lady Ms Neo Masisi in her fight against Gender-Based Violence. ENDS