Speaking at the parliament session yesterday, Tshireletso said some Ipelegeng beneficiaries from Old Naledi were assigned to pick litter around Glen Valley in Gaborone North, which is in close proximity to the ponds but they didn’t clean them. “Cleaning the sewerage ponds has never been part of Ipelegeng programme as the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) adequately does the cleaning of ponds without the need for assistance by Ipelegeng crews,” she said, adding that either way, the workers are provided with dust mask, surgical and industrial gloves for their safety and protection.
Tshireletso also told parliament that her ministry through Gaborone City Council (GCC) has deliberately increased the Ipelegeng quota for Gaborone South Constituency having noted that the constituency more especially Old Naledi has a large pool of people who need assistance for the programme while other constituencies within the Gaborone district notably North and Central do not always meet the quota. Tshireletso was responding to MP for Gaborone South Kagiso Molatlhegi who had asked if the minister is aware that Ipelegeng workers from Gaborone South Constituency were assigned to clean the Glen Valley Sewerage ponds and the health risk involved as the workers were not given protective clothing. He also asked whether the ministry has considered paying the workers an extra amount for cleaning the ponds. Meanwhile, the Assistant Minister of Health, Gloria Somolokae was asked to update parliament on the construction and upgrading of health facilities in Jamataka and Mafungo-Hubona villages. She said although she is aware that the two villages qualify to have health posts based on their populations, they, together with others listed in the National Development Plan (NDP) 10 have been deferred due to financial constraints. Somolokae told parliament that funds permitting, all deferred and priority projects would be reprioritised. She added that although she has not visited these villages, plans are underway for senior staff in her ministry to go there in August.
