03 Jun 2026

More than 5 300 vulnerable people in Kweneng District currently depend on government social welfare programmes for survival.

Addressing a full council session recently, Council Chairperson, Mr Ontefetse Rankhibidu painted a sobering picture of social vulnerability in the district, revealing that thousands continued to rely on safety net programmes.

“The district is presently supporting 5 312 beneficiaries through various welfare initiatives, including 3 406 destitute persons, 868 needy students, 1 033 orphans and vulnerable children, 154 children in need of protection, 19 community home-based care clients and 32 foster care children. At the same time, council is handling 345 social protection cases at different stages,” he said.

Mr Rankhibidu said children remained among the most vulnerable, with neglect and sexual abuse cases emerging as dominant concerns.

He said the district authorities were grappling with rising cases of child neglect and defilement.

According to Councillor Rankhibidu, child neglect accounted for 79 cases, while defilement stands at 62 cases, making them the most prevalent social protection issues confronting the district.

He said addressing neglect, malnutrition and vulnerability remained central to improving wellbeing across the district.

An increase in the number of children requiring care has also been observed, something authorities attribute largely to neglect and malnutrition cases.

“The district is deeply committed to providing essential services to vulnerable community members,” Mr Rankhibidu said.

Despite the challenges, he said council reported some positive movement, noting that destitution had declined by 177 cases, representing a 3.2 per cent reduction since the previous sitting.

He stated that officials believed the decrease may be linked to an ongoing data cleansing exercise.

Meanwhile, uncertainty over food support systems has emerged following the end of government’s arrangement with Smart Switch Botswana for provision of food rations through the coupon system in March this year.

To avoid disruption of assistance to vulnerable households, councils have been authorised to develop alternative models.

As a result, Kweneng District Council is now transitioning toward a cash transfer model, which is believed may offer beneficiaries greater flexibility and dignity in accessing necessities.

In the interim, Mr Rankhibidu said Kweneng District Council has sought permission to continue using Smart Switch services until the end of June to ensure uninterrupted support. ENDS