29 Jun 2023

Kgatleng district authorities have been implored to resuscitate disaster preparedness teams in all district events to ensure prompt response to disasters that may occur during public gatherings.

District Council chairperson, Mr Daniel Molokwe said this at the start of a week-long Kgatleng District Full Council meeting on Monday.

Speaking against the backdrop of the mishap that occurred at the 2023 Toyota Gazoo 1000 Desert Race (TDR) in Jwaneng recently, Mr Molokwe said there was need for adequate planning to minimise risk and ensure that manpower, plant and equipment were ready to respond to any form of disaster.

“Disaster prevention, preparedness and response cannot be left to government alone, we need to engage the private sector as well especially during large events,” he said.

In that regard,  he said, there should be a dedicated budget for events and deliberate move to outsource disaster management services from the private sector to augment government effort.

Mr Molokwe said the Jwaneng mishap should be an eye opener to event planners and organisers about the importance of disaster prevention, preparedness and response during major events and conferences intended to boost the economy.

He told the meeting that the just ended Polling District and Establishment of Polling Stations Demarcation exercise was carried out as planned and on schedule, where all relevant stakeholders were briefed and consulted.

The council chairperson said the consultations were mostly done through Kgotla meetings in all the 22 villages in the district, and the Kgatleng Demarcation Committee had successfully submitted its report to the Secretary of the IEC within the set date of 25th June 2023.

“The Secretary is expected to publicise the report in July 2023 through the government gazette. This demarcation paves way to the general voter registration that is expected around September / October,” he said.

Mr Molokwe also called for implementation of cost saving and control measures in council budget allocations to avoid a deficit at the end of the year.

He also said there was need to strengthen collection strategies to raise income for the council, adding that the council only managed to collect own source income of over P657 000 against a target of P1. 5million.

He also said some votes were over-spent while some were not utilised owing to inadequate budgeting.

Mr Molokwe said Kgatleng Land Board,  Molokwe had managed to register only four general plans, two in Artesia, one in Mochudi and another under Oodi Sub Land board.

The general plans mean that the process of conveyancing that enables the production of land titles would only be possible in the said areas, he said

He informed councilors that the Kgatleng District had in excess of 100 general plans in total, which had been outsourced to private surveyors.He said until the whole process was complete, Land Board wouild not be able to facilitate issuance of secure land titles. So far, only 272 titles had been produced across the district, he said. ENDS