Mabutsane Amongst Leading Poverty Stricken Areas

Lebogang Baingapi | Monday August 21, 2017 16:46

Stammere-Ramosesane said on Tuesday that members of the community still face social ills, which sadly put them in the less well-off category. He listed social ills such as dysfunctional families, disregard for education, alcohol abuse, lack of job opportunies and limited market opportunities as some that exacerbates the situation.  The district has 19 villages, which are mostly under Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) and affirmative action, which give preference to the residents in terms of employment and other benefits.

“The sub-district has a large number of people being cushioned against these challenges and this paint a gloomy picture of the socio-economic and psychological state of our people.

The affected are however assisted accordingly with food rations, toiletry, transport fares and school uniform and we continue to do assessments to ensure that no one is unduly left behind,” he said.

Stammere-Ramosesane further disclosed an impressive number of poverty eradication programme enrolment, which indicate 125 projects of which 79 are operational and 46 are not. He said non-operational projects are due to lack of commitment of the beneficiaries, unwillingness to work in groups, delayed technical training, lack of operational space and high pricing of commodities leading to less or zero sales.

He called on the implementers to employ their energy in assisting the beneficiaries to market their products through refresher courses and through provision of psychological support.

Councillor for Khakhea/Kutuku Kelatlhilwe Paraffin urged the council to apply strict monitoring of government poverty eradication projects to ensure sustainability and called for timely delivery of all equipment to the beneficiaries to start their businesses. On other issues councillors expressed concern over poor state of roads. Paraffin decried poor grading which ultimately destroys vehicles, while councillor Case Lebotso of Sekoma called on the council to hasten grading of Mahotshwane road which was affected by recent heavy rains.

Lebotso also decried poor supply of portable water. Specially elected councillor, Sabata Dikgokgwane added that the council be adjourned to see the calamitous situation of thirst in Mahotshwane.

However the Water Utilities Corporation water superintendent Lopang Seporo assured councillors that they would work around the clock to ensure water was delivered to Mahotshwane through a bowser. He said they would rely on a tank from Kanye for the time being and later outsource private tanks. “We admit that Mahotshwane needs a lasting solution on water provision. Though we do not have a budget yet, we have liaised with the village kgosi as we continue to monitor the situation,” he said.