29 Aug 2024

Government is contemplating the establishment of hybrid service centres in strategic places in order to bring services and opportunities closer to communities living far away from district headquarters.

This was revealed by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Honourable Kgotla Autlwetse at a kgotla meeting at Metsibotlhoko on Tuesday.

Mr Autlwetse stated that he had already presented the proposal to establish the hybrid service centres in strategic places to the Cabinet. He was hopeful that the cabinet would embrace it.

He argued that following the elevation of sub-councils to be fully fledged councils, there was still need to establish hybrid service centres to ensure that government services were also accessible.

Minister Autlwetse said the plan was to construct hybrid service centres in such strategic places with a view to transform and develop them into sub-districts in future, hence they would be built in big open space to cater for future expansion.

For Okavango District, he said Shakawe was earmarked for such developments while for Boteti, Makalamabedi had been suggested. For Kgatleng District, Mmathubudukwane is eyed, for Letlhakeng District the proposed village is Takatokwane while the proposal for Palapye District is not yet final.

Earlier on, one resident, Mr Molebedi Sethatho had raised concern that despite elevation of sub-councils to be fully fledged councils, there were some villages that were still remote from district headquarters, making it difficult for them to access government services.

Meanwhile, Mr Autlwetse informed residents of Metsibotlhoko and Dutlwe, where he also addressed a kgotla meeting, that plans were underway to decentralise the department of tribal administration and give them autonomy to make decisions.

The Minister explained that the plan was for the Department of Tribal Administration offices in their respective districts report directly to the ministry.

“End of July I met and consulted dikgosi from all tribal authorities and they unanimously supported the proposal,” Mr Autlwetse stated.

The area Member of Parliament, Mr Tshoganetso Leuwe described the move to decentralise the Department of Tribal Administration as a step in the right direction, concurring that it would improve efficiency. ends