19 Nov 2023

Mosolotshane has been promised two vehicles for use by the tribal administration and Social and Community Development department.

Responding to concerns raised by the Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Elizabeth Disang about shortage of transport, during a kgotla meeting addressed by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi at Mosolotshane on Friday, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse said Mahalapye District Council was expecting new vehicles of which one would be delivered to Mosolotshane to be  used by the community development office.

He said another P35m tender was floating at the ministry headquarters to purchase new vehicles and promised that Mosolotshane would receive a  new vehicle to be issued to tribal administration.

Mr Autlwetse explained that Mosolotshane kgotla could not be upgraded to a fully-fledged kgotla because its population did not meet the required quota.

With a population of 2 375, he said the status quo would remain until the population increased, adding that  ‘as the population increases this would also change.’

Concerning  the request to consider remunerating Parents Teachers Association (PTA) members, Mr Autlwetse said government could not afford to remunerate PTA members and other committees within the villages.

Mr Autlwetse who was responding to Mosolotshane Primary School PTA chairperson, Mr Edward Moganana said government acknowledged the importance of PTAs in schools but maintained that PTA was volunteer work that could not be remunerated.

He said the government was already overwhelmed with many responsibilities to ensure that all the necessary resources were in place, to ensure access to education for Batswana children.

Mr Autlwetse informed residents that government made provision for the school infrastructure, teaching and learning material as well as pay teachers, provide feeding and pay utility bills whilst parents’ responsibility was to provide uniform for their children and help teachers by disciplining them.

“If we pay you for performing this role then what will be your responsibility in the education of your children,” asked Mr Autlwetse.

He said suggestions to remunerate PTAs were made in the past but that did not mean government ought to implement as there were no sufficient funds to remunerate volunteerism.

Area MP, Mr Aubrey Lesaso said that government was doing its best to turn Shoshong Constituency, which Mosolotshane belonged to, around citing the completion of hostels in Kalamare with a capacity to accommodate 184 pupils from the villages of Bonwapitse, Mmutane and Kodibeleng.

He said the constituency was also expecting a junior secondary school, a project that would be done under the National Development Plan 12, so that pupils from villages in Shoshong Constituency were admitted near their home villages. Currently pupils are admitted as far as Ramokgonami JSS in Tswapong area.

Mr Lesaso urged parents to participate in their children’s education by helping them with homework and giving them proper care. 

He also urged parents to discipline children because it was their responsibility to mould and guide them.

Mr Lesaso explained that government was in the process of building a level one hospital with 53 beds, in Shoshong under the Transitional Development Plan.

He said development manager was already on site to inspect the area.

Meanwhile, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Lefoko Moagi briefed the residents that mining company, Vision Ridge suspended operations because of a decline in iron ore prices.

He said the company was issued a 10-year license in 2021 to mine iron ore and sell it other countries but the company suspended operations last year September following a decline in prices, from US$150 to US$80 per tonne.

This he said resulted in the mineral’s exports being  not viable amid higher logistic costs hence the company could no longer continue production when they were not exporting.

However, he explained that the mine would start production soon because prices had gone up again and that the company had also identified a buyer to export to in China.

“The mine would bounce back and would help grow the economy of Shoshong and surrounding villages,” said Mr Moagi. Ends