05 Aug 2026

Government is deploying targeted infrastructure programmes and emergencymaintenance funds to fix school toilet facilities across Boteti West and prioritise purpose-built  reception amenities while rolling out repairs across the constituency.

Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, told Parliament on Monday that despite fiscal constraints, government was addressing infrastructure gaps through the Backlog Eradication Programme, Constituency Community Projects (CCP) and the Ikageng Public Works Programme.

Minister Motshegwa said under the current financial year, a new reception classroom equipped with dedicated junior toilets would be constructed at Xere Primary School.

“Simultaneously, the ministry has utilised P2.4 million in drought mitigation funds through the Boteti District Council to execute urgent minor maintenance across primary schools in the region,” he said.

He added that maintenance work had already been completed at Baipidi, Moreomato, Khumaga, Etsile, Mmadikola, Xhumo and Motopi primary schools.

Again, he said facilities at Kedia Primary School remain functional and were being monitored for minor repairs by in-house teams.

He further told Parliament that ongoing refurbishments at Nicodemus, Tsienyane, Toromoja, Mopipi, Xere, Manthabakwe and Mokobaxane were slated for completion between August and November this year.

“Specific works include the reconstruction of a conservancy tank at Mopipi, while Tsienyane’s remaining two toilet blocks will be built under the Ikageng Programme,” he said.

On policy concerns, Mr Motshegwa emphasised that government regulations mandated

reception pupils to use age-appropriate junior toilets, particularly designed for young children.

He acknowledged that while 12 out of 15 primary schools in Boteti West currently lacked fully-fledged junior toilets, forcing reception pupils to share facilities with mainstream learners, the shared arrangement was a temporary measure resulting from past budget limitations.

Parliament also heard that when pre-primary education was introduced in 2016/2017, local authorities were forced to convert existing structures, such as old kitchens, into classroomswithout junior toilets due to spatial and financial limitations while only Motopi, Etsile and Mokobaxane primary schools were initially equipped with purpose-built facilities.

“The ministry remains committed to progressively normalising the situation through construction of new junior toilets or conversion of existing facilities where feasible, subject to availability of resources,” Mr Motshegwa stated.

Boteti West MP, Mr Sam Digwa, had asked for an update on the dire state of school sanitation in the constituency, the timeline for interventions and whether sharing toilets between pre- primary and mainstream learners complied with national education policy. ENDS