23 Mar 2014

Choppies Group has handed over three two and half houses to the Presidential Housing Appeal.

The Presidential Housing Appeal was set up with the objective to provide shelter to the needy by 2016. Handing over the houses at Madiba ward in Mahalapye over the weekend, Choppies Group CEO Mr Ramachandran Ottapathu said Choppies intended to build a total of 138 houses by 2016 which would be handed over to the Presidential Housing Appeal.

So far, he said Choppies had delivered 29 houses whilst 12 more houses would be built this year. Mr Ottapathu thanked Office of the President for taking the initiative to provide shelter to the under-privileged members of society.

When receiving the houses, Presidential Housing Appeal Committee member, Mr Paul Paledi thanked Choppies for the donation. He said the initiative was President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s dream and wanted to see every Motswana having a decent shelter or roof over their heads by 2016.

Thus, he pointed out that the initiative had nothing to do with politics. He said the board worked hand in hand with social workers to help identify the beneficiaries, adding that beneficiaries were not identified looking at their political affiliation.

Mr Paledi further said 375 houses had so far been built through the initiative and 25 more houses were under construction. In addition, Mr Paledi urged Batswana to support the initiative by donating houses or money to help fellow citizens in need of shelter.

He said President Khama had planted a seed to his citizens to help others and wanted them to carry this dream forward. The housing appeal committee in turn donated the houses to three beneficiaries namely Mr Ishmael Gowe and Mrs Sarah Masheleng of Thomadithotse and Madiba wards in Mahalapye respectively and Ms Kesegofetse Mogano of Bonwapitse.

MP for Mahalapye West, Mr Bernard Bolele also thanked Choppies and the Presidential Housing Appeal for the donation. Mr Bolele said the initiative did not only provide housing to beneficiaries in Mahalapye but had also benefited beneficiaries from different parts of the country.

He said the recipients of the three houses to consider themselves blessed to have been chosen among the many.

One recipient of the house, Ms Sarah Masheleng also thanked Choppies and the Presidential Housing Appeal Committee for restoring her dignity.She also thanked the leadership in her community. ENDS