Cry for help: Kgosi Gabanamotse's plea for Hatsalatladi

Speaking recently on the challenges faced by the community, he revealed that Ipelegeng, a government short-term employment programme, remains the sole source of employment for residents. With no government entities in the area to provide sustainable job opportunities, villagers are forced to seek work in larger towns such as Molepolole or the capital city Gaborone. Hatsalatladi village currently has a kgotla (traditional court), a primary school, and a clinic, which can be deemed as developments.

However, these facilities fall short of addressing the unemployment crisis. Hence, the village leader has bemoaned the rising incidents of theft and assault, particularly at night and around bars, which he attributes to widespread joblessness. "We often record cases of stolen phones and assaults happening during the night. It's heartbreaking to see our youth, both graduates and non-graduates, aimlessly wandering with nothing to do," Kgosi Gabanamotse told The Monitor. "Our village is small, and it is troubling to witness such a rise in crime," he added.