19 Aug 2026

Palapye District leadership has been challenged to shift from merely reporting challenges to actively engineering creative solutions to improve service delivery and local economic growth.

Officially opening a full council session on Monday, Council Chairperson, Mr Kabo Ketshogile said the next level of leadership must be measured by the speed and creativity in converting operational constraints into public solutions.

He urged heads of departments to strengthen performance management by attaching specific responsible officers, clear action plans, and strict deadlines to every significant service-delivery challenge.

Mr Ketshogile also advised councillors to enhance their oversight role by heeding to communities calls and scrutinise service delivery without interfering in administrative roles.

However, he cautioned them that while serving the community and analysing service delivery, they must avoid the temptation of becoming operational arms of government and council departments.

He further appealed to public officers to return to the core values of public service, ensuring agility, courtesy and ownership. 

Mr Ketshogile urged community members to accept responsibility by paying bills, taking care of the available infrastructure, reporting vandalism, and supporting local producers and other efforts aimed and improving service delivery, livelihoods and local economy.

On the fiscal position for the first quarter, Mr Ketshogile said council registered an approved quarterly allocation of over P56.2 million, comprising a Revenue Support Grant of more than P54.8 million and a projected own-source revenue of P1.4 million.

He said expenditure reached over P59.4 million, exceeding the quarterly allocation by approximately six per cent, further noting that the Relief of Destitute budget alone exceeded its annual allocation by P2.78 million.

To counteract the financial strain, he said council was directed to prioritise own-source revenue enhancement by strengthening collections, improving billing systems, maintaining accurate valuation information and pursuing lawful recovery of arrears.

On agriculture, Mr Ketshogile said under Temo Letlotlo, 258 farmers have completed fencing of 2 241.02 hectares, while P9.78 million has been disbursed under Lemang Dijo to support 3 062 farmers.

“A further 6,963 hectares have been ploughed during the 2025/26 season,” he said.

He said commercial and horticultural farming in the Tuli Block continues to thrive, with 624.90 hectares harvested to produce 2 001.66 tonnes, including potatoes, onions, and citrus, while the Lotsane Irrigation Scheme at Tsarona recorded a maize harvest of 1 215 tonnes. 

“In livestock development, the Makoro Artificial Insemination camp received 171 cows, resulting in 144 inseminated and a 79 per cent conception rate.

“On veterinary safety, no clinical cases of Foot and Mouth Disease were observed, with active surveillance scheduled to commence in September 2026,” said Mr Ketshogile.

In land management, Mr Ketshogile said major residential expansions were underway, with Palapye phase II boasting a completed design of 7 391 plots.

“Approved layouts in Lesenepole, Mogapinyana, Kgagodi, Mokgware, Malaka, and Lerala provide an additional 4 700 plots, while Topisi and Lecheng maintain approved general plans for 1 500 and 2 000 plots respectively,” he said.

Addressing health services, Mr Ketshogile expressed concern over deteriorating public facilities and drug availability. 

“Overall drug availability at Palapye Primary Hospital stands at 57 per cent, falling below the national target of 75 per cent. 

Vital drugs stand at 63 per cent, essential drugs at 55 per cent, necessary drugs at 47 per cent, and non-drugs at 77 per cent, demanding strict supply-chain discipline and timely ordering,” he said. ENDS