23 Jan 2025

Boteti District Council chairperson, Mr Onkhuparetse Monnaatsie says the council is sitting on an accumulated deficit amounting to over P93 million, the debts and overdrafts, which were inherited from the then Central District Council.

This, he said compromised service delivery as often times suppliers received late payments due to insufficient funds.

The state of primary schools in Boteti, he said was an eye sore, hence needed cyclic maintenance.

Mr Monnaatsie made the remarks during a council meeting in Botetti addressed by Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa on the proposed Local Government Decentralisation Policy on Wednesday.

The minister, who is also Member of Parliament for Mmadinare, highlighted that the overall goal of the policy was to promote equitable and sustainable development and enhance citizen participation by transferring decision making powers and resources to local government.

“We must understand that this comes with added responsibilities therefore, as councilors you must prepare yourselves for such,” he said.

Mr Motshegwa also implored councillors to be result orientated and have a quest for excellence, adding that leadership was rather about vision and responsibility not power.

On another issue, the minister acknowledged challenges faced by different councils in the country, while he also encouraged the leadership to do away with the culture of always glorifying those challenges and come up with intervention strategies and solutions.

Commenting on the proposed Local Government Decentralisation Policy, Orapa councillor, Mr Balopi Chilume suggested that government should consider reviewing salaries for councillors since the exercise would come with added responsibilities.

Mokubilo councillor, Mr Phankgi Resetse said the decentralisation policy was a welcome development but was skeptical about the idea of moving of clinics from central to local government.

Mr Resetse argued that with already more responsibilities brought about by the proposed policy, bringing clinics to the ministry would be a burden. ENDS