18 Nov 2025

 Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, is committed to executing a high priority and real time intervention concerning maintenance of schools’ infrastructures in Kgatleng East constituency. 

Local government minister, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, explained to Parliament that, the ministry was aware of the persistent infestation of bats in classrooms and teachers’ quarters in some of the schools found in the constituency. 

To address the situation, he said ceilings were being removed in affected facilities for cleaning, disposal and intensive sealing of all bats entry points to prevent immediate recurrences and immediate disinfection. 

Mr Motshegwa said the critical works were done in-house using council personnel and Ipelegeng labour to maintain fiscal prudence.

A comprehensive and long-term intervention and rehabilitations will be fully executed once funds permit, he said, adding that the ministry would continue to engage with relevant authorities to establish a joint collaboration. 

He said the joint collaboration would not only manage and control bat populations but would also facilitate discussions to determine the need to commission research concerning the risks of zoonotic transmissions from such infestations.  Furthermore, he said the discussions would inform the development of safe, sustainable and comprehensive guidelines for long term remedies. 

He said the ministry continued to engage with the Kgatleng District Council, to mitigate maintenance issues and achieve a fair state of operational readiness. 

“To address these urgent national needs, the ministry has submitted a development maintenance budget proposal for consideration under National Development Plan 12 and Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, across the country,” he said. 

He promised visible improvements in the learning environment resulting from active short-term interventions designed to ensure facilities are habitable. 

Kgatleng East MP, Mr Mabuse Pule had asked the minister whether the ministry was actively addressing the poor infrastructure and maintenance challenges in schools within Kgatleng East constituency. 

He further asked the minister to state whether the ministry was aware of the persistent infestation of bats in classrooms and teachers’ quarters in several schools, a situation he said posed serious health, safety and hygiene risks to learners and educators. 

The legislator also asked what real time interventions were being actively pursued to eradicate bat infestations and prevent recurrences in affected facilities. In light of global pandemics such as COVID-19 suspected to have zoonotic origins, 

Mr Pule wanted to know if the ministry intended to commission research into the risks of such transmissions and also to develop guidelines for safe remediation. 

In addition, Mr Pule asked whether the ministry had engaged with Kgatleng District Council to facilitate routine inspections and timely interventions of maintenance in schools and teachers’ quarters and when the constituents should expect visible and measurable improvements in their learning centres. BOPA