Tati Siding residents end of year development projects review

OGGIE B. MARUAPULA | Friday January 8, 2010 00:00

Indeed the new Government regime, with its fifth D for delivery requires the current Civil, Traditional and Political Leadership to ensure that everyone pulls together. This was underscored by Kgosi Nkgageng on welcoming residents to the end of year development projects review Kgotla meeting, which had a formal agenda, among which was Youth Development Funding, Report by the Village Development Committee, and Address by Council Water Department.

Kgosi Nkgageng implored the gathering that the meeting should confine itself to the agenda, be focused, save time, and that there should be dignity and respect for the Kgotla by all who would be making comments, asking questions and making presentations.

For the first time in the history of the village, there were more than 100 members of the community all gathered at the Tati Siding main Kgotla within Gulubane Ward on Monday December 28, 2009. The public gathered in large numbers even before the set start time of 09:00 hours to be officially presented with their recently elected councillors and minister appointed political leaders. Even the Youth were present in large numbers. To acknowledge that Tati Siding, with close to 10,000 people was indeed getting recognized, there are currently 3 Councillors, namely Dlodlo, Kutshwe, and Sibochwa, who all represent the entire village on equal footing. This was made clear by the retired Councillor Kopano Maruping who remarked that 'according to the standing orders, both elected and nominated Councilors have equal say and rights'.

Once Kgosi Nkgageng had given his welcome and cautionary message to set the tone for the meeting, the three Councillors were introduced and subsequently gave stock of progress in implementation of planned Council projects.

They touched on the upgrading of the Clinic, the anticipated opening of the newly built Primary School, challenges in keeping Street lights functioning, collection of litter by privately engaged contractors, and other social services programmes like taking care of the elderly, women and youth empowerment issues.

Topical became the change-over in provision of village water supply by Council and take over by Water Utilities Corporation by February 2010. Though this being a welcome development, the concern became the manner in which the Council Water Department wanted to communicate with the residents by informing them that all outstanding installments and bills will warrant disconnection of the waste-water and clean-water services by January 2010 by the North East District Council before handover to Water Utilities Corporation materialises in February.

The village leadership and indeed the Kgotla gathering took this to be very instructive, non-facilitative, antagonistic, and threatening the development of Tati Siding. The Kgosi resolved that 'leave this one for me, I will take it up with the Council Secretary, myself'. Is this not the kind of representation on village development issues and challenges faced that every village should require? I suppose so,since certainly the residents were excited to have chosen a capable Kgosi, who defends their collective interests. After all, water is life!

On Youth Development Funding, it was briefed that the Department of Youth Sport and Culture would come to Tati Siding on January 14 to roll out participation by Youth the preparing and submitting project proposals for funding under the Government approved P60 million Youth Development Fund. Business persons in Tati Siding were requested to assemble the Youth and assist them in developing wining proposals which shall enable them to benefit from such funding by Government. Maruapula may be reached at ebatconsultants@hotmail.com