Orphan programme runs out of funds

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Thursday August 30, 2012 00:00

 

Mayor Godfrey Mbaiwa told a council meeting this week that P4.4 million was disbursed to the council after it made a proposal for the programme.

The council had overspent by over P3.2 million for the 2012/2013 financial year because it was spending nearly P400,000 a month on rations alone, Mbaiwa said. At the same time, the council's home-based care programme had yet to receive funding after submitting a request for P901,000 to the Department of Social Services at the Ministry of Local Government. The mayor said SPTC's destitute programme supports 145 beneficiaries and 277 needy students.  So far, 568 children had been exempted from paying school fees while 707 orphans and vulnerable children are registered under the programme. Mayor Mbaiwa said people of Selebi-Phikwe have been sensitised on the council's alternative packages programme and that eligible clients had been assisted while emerging ones are also are being assisted as they caome.

The council had already funded 34 projects under the programme while 72 people were expected to benefit from this programme that falls under the poverty eradication strategy that targets destitute and potential destitute persons, people living with disabilities, the marginalised, the unemployed and people living below the poverty datum line. The mayor explained that funding for this programme was P649,000 and that materials and equipment had already been purchased for 22 projects.

Two hundred and forty three thousand Pula had already been used during procurement and an additional P102,000 that was outstanding had been disbursed to SPTC, bringing total funding to P751,000. Mayor Mbaiwa said out of the 22 projects for which materials were purchased, 15 were now in production, while seven were awaiting purchase of outstanding materials.  He noted that the council was still looking for operational bases for nine projects.  'Mitigation measures are that council will assist with market stalls for rental beneficiaries,' he said, adding that registration for new beneficiaries was still ongoing. Seventy-five beneficiaries across Selebi-Phikwe had enrolled for economic empowerment training courses in interior design, textile and food preservation while another 75 beneficiaries had enrolled in a home economics training course.

'This will go a long way in promoting economic empowerment for our communities and individuals,' said the mayor.