12 Jan 2025

Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe East, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana and Mr Reuben Kaizer for Selebi Phikwe West have expressed the need to maintain a continuous inclusive and collaborative leadership among the town’s political and administrative leadership.

The two Members of Parliament expressed this during a meet and greet session with the town’s administrative and political leaders aimed at providing an update on the implementation of projects and uptake of community empowerment initiatives in the region.

Mr Nkawana emphasised that a leadership style characterised by inclusivity and collaboration promoted better teamwork and effective coordination, which were essential for the success of various socio-economic initiatives in the town, thereby supporting sustainable developments and empowering the community.

“This area has a significant potential, collaborative measures among leaders will make a difference if efforts to guide initiatives focused on enhancing livelihoods and elevating the town’s status are carried out successfully while also meeting market demands and customer needs,” he said.

He further stated that the collaborative approach would also demonstrate transparency and accountability, while making sure that relevant voices were acknowledged and included in decision-making process.

Mr Kaizer also acknowledged the importance of a collaborative approach, stating that it would foster a culture focused on improving service delivery and provide him with guidance in his new role as the Member of Parliament. He also conveyed dissatisfaction with regards to some of the government-funded projects in the area that were said to be under performing and those that had failed.

He stressed that while the government’s role was to support the establishment of various initiatives, beneficiaries must continuously put in more efforts to ensure their success.

Earlier on, the district planner at the office of the District Commissioner in Selebi Phikwe, Ms Meldah Makebea pointed out the delay in the disbursement of the Youth Development Fund (YDF) money, as well as under performance and closure of several government empowerment programmes meant for youth and women.

She mentioned that since inception of the YDF initiative, over P6 million had been allocated to start up various projects, yet only P732 000 had been recouped thus far.

For his part, the Mayor, Mr Oageng Makgosa emphasised the need for workers to refrain from participating in corrupt practises, but maintain ethical standards and ensure that resources were utilised efficiently for the benefit of the community. ENDS