19 Jan 2023

Two Sankoyo Tshwaragano Management Trust (STMT) board members have suspended for misuse of office.

It is alleged that the two, board chairperson and vice chairperson Messrs Monthusi Sinvula and Kempho Kedikilwe last year disbursed a P150 000 loan to an officer in the North West District Commissioner’s Office, without the knowledge or consent of the rest of the board and general members.

The agrrement was  to settle the loan in October 2022, but the beneficiary failed to honour the agreement, resulting in the Trust members calling a meeting on Tuesday to demand their money.

The newly elected Board of Trustee Chairperson, Mr Junior Moalosi said that an amount of P150 000 was credited into the borrower’s account, facilitated by the duo, with the assistance of the Trust Manager, Mr Galesenngwe Haku.

Mr Moalosi stated that the rest of the board members only found out about the loan in December last year, from a letter written by the borrower explaining that he could not settle the loan in October as per the agreement.

He said subsequently, the other board members decided to remove the pair from the board, to await a resolution from the Tuesday Special General Meeting, where a decision was taken to suspend them for a year.

During the one year suspension, the duo would not be allowed to participate in any Trust matters, including meetings.

Members further requested that the current board members write a letter of demand to the debtor, to return the money.

They also expressed disappointment with the public servant, accusing him of misuse of trust and office, for borrowing money from a community trust, knowing very well that it was unethical.

They further called on the Community- Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), to suspend the officer from actively participating in the advisory board of trustees, to ensure he does not commit a similar crime elsewhere.

TAC Secretary, Mr Mogotsi Modise said the Trust Manager Mr Haku, was an employee of the Trust, hence he could not be handed the same punishment as the pair, which meant that he could only be reprimanded by his employers; the Board of Trustees.

Kgosi Gokgathang Moalosi of Sankoyo stated that it was imperative that as custodians of natural resources in their localities, communities  to preserve them for their benefit.

He said government allowed them to use natural resources in NG33 and NG34 concessions, hence the community should act prudently, ‘because these natural resources belong to all Batswana’.

Kgosi Moalosi urged his people to always uphold objectivity and truth.

 “Let us learn to be truthful always and stay away from unethical acts that could breed corruption and result in some of you thrown in jail”.  Ends