09 Dec 2013

Beneficiaries of the poverty eradication programme in the Boteti Sub-district have not completed their projects because of lack of adequate supplies due to prolonged procurement processes.

Minister of Infrastructure Science and Technology, Mr Johnnie Swartz said when responding to a question in Parliament on behalf of the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration.

Mr Swartz said 91 backyard gardens have been completed, out of which 47 are operational. He said 35 still await water connection while nine are awaiting seedlings. For alternative packages, he said 176 have been completed and are operational while 23 are still waiting for supplies. He said his ministry is working with implementing sectors to ensure that they fast track procurement processes for alternative packages.
“All projects which have not yet been planted will be planted by the end of January, using seedlings produced by Sub-district Agricultural Office in Letlhakane,” he said.

He said Water Utilities Corporation has also made plans to connect water in various projects before the end of March 2014. Boteti North MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane had asked the minister if he was aware that some beneficiaries of the poverty eradication programme in the Boteti Sub-district have not completed their projects because of lack of adequate supplies. He also wanted the minister to state the number of successfully completed projects and those that are not yet functional since their inception.  ENDS