Keep Politicians AwayFrom Development Committees - Mukokomani

Calistus Kolantsho
Correspondent | Monday June 22, 2009 00:00

Speaking at a Kgotla meeting addressed by Selebi-Phikwe East MP, also the Minister of Lands and Housing, Nonofo Molefhi, last weekend, Mukokomani said people with political agendas stall developments deliberately.

He also said the system of electing WDC members should be changed. Mukokomani complained that market stalls that the council has constructed in Ikageleng were dilapidated and the council had long promised to refurbish them. He said the stalls were meant to assist women who wanted to venture into business. He said the criminals now use the ugly stalls as hideouts.

Selebi-Phikwe District Officer, Khumo Keeng, also agreed with Mukokomani that the system of electing members of WDC's should be changed and admitted that political interference exists.

Addressing the residents, Molefhi said the government took a deliberate decision to delay National Development Plan 10 because of the international economic downturn.

'The government has to stop some projects that were in this plan because of insufficient funds but there are some priority projects that are on-going such as Dikgathong Dam,' he said.

Molefhi said the recession has cost the government P13 billion running into 2015.

Government took a loan of P10 billion from African Development Bank.

The minister said the controversy around sponsorship of students arose because of lack of funds. He said there was misappropriate use of funds at the department of student placement and welfare that led to the suspension of some senior officials.

He also said student allowances will be reinstated when the economy recovers.

Selebi-Phikwe Deputy Town Clerk, Mompati Seleka, said the council had discussed market stalls with WDC's. He said there is a problem with maintaining them and most of them do not operate.

'Some of them are located next to supermarkets and they are faced with stiff competition which they cannot survive. We are still assessing how we can refurbish them,' he said.

One of the residents of Ikageleng, Masego Ntsatsi, complained that the government did not consult people when it decided to stop the allowances. She said the government should reinstate the system because parents are already overburdened with rent.