18 Jun 2025

Lack of maintenance in RADS hostels in Serowe District worries government.

This came to light during a tour of the hostels by the Inter-Ministerial Consultation Committee appointed by the President in Sehonou and Malatswae recently.

However, Serowe District Council official informed the committee that despite financial challenges, the hostels were being attended to. Briefing the committee, Sehunou hostel matron, Mr Baodubi Gakebao said while there was maintenance going on at the hostels, the contractor was working at a snail pace. The delay, he said forced them to accommodate pupils in one room.  He said the hostels accommodated 193 pupils, doing standard one to seven, with ages ranging between six and 13.

He further said shortage of teaching staff and learning materials as well as dilapidated buildings deter them from producing good results.

He also complained about the old furniture, which needed to be repaired or replaced. 

Even though the hostels geysers had not been working in a long time, he said caretakers and matron voluntarily warmed water for learners. He added that suppliers delivered food ration late as council paid them late due to financial constraints. 

He further requested for vehicle belonging to the school. 

In Malatswae, they also decried shortage of food, transport and warm water.  They said the hostel fence was dilapidated and pupils skipped school to go back to the ranches where their parents were working.

The district’s Deputy Council Secretary Administration, Ms Onalenna Moribame noted that the issues of backlog, budgetary considerations and implementation capacity had made it difficult to adhere to the maintenance schedule.

She admitted that the hostels building required maintenance while furniture needed to be repaired or replaced.

However, she said maintenance was ongoing though the contractor was working at a snail pace. 

She said council was experiencing some challenges with the entire hostels sewage drainage system connecting the ablution facilities and the situation would be addressed.

For her part, chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Consultation Committee appointed by the President, Ms Naledi Stella Moroka, who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services, said despite the dilapidated facilities, teachers and pupils must remain focused and do their best to pave for a better future. ENDS