- Suspend manual pounding services,
- Scales down some food commodities in schools
- Ipelegeng workers owed for two months period
- Faces a pile of pending unpaid claims which continue to pile up on a daily basis
The North West District Council (NWDC) just like other local authorities nationwide has not been spared from financial contraints, and has been forced to tighten the belt.
This will consequently disrupt some essential provisions including among others the immediate suspension of hand stamping services, temporary scaling down of food items in schools as well as the delay payments of Ipelegeng workers.
Addressing a press conference in Maun this week, NWDC chairman, Itumeleng Kelebetseng said they have realised that their financial position was not improving hence the budgetary measures.
He highlighted that council is currently operating in negatives under the School Feeding Programme. As a result, Kelebetseng said they were encouraged by the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs to decrease expenditure as a temporary measure to address these financial challenges.
The situation he said is worrisome as they had a pile of pending unpaid claims which continue to pile up on a daily basis.
“This situation has inclined the department to propose immediate suspension of hand stamping and temporary scale down of some of the food commodities supplied to schools.”
The council has since taken the decision to temporary scale down the provision of jam, eggs, and fruits in schools. Provision of some food commodities such as apples have been stopped and remaining with oranges. Eggs will also be given to students once a week instead of three times a week.
Kelebetseng however clarified that these commodities are supplementary noting that council will continue to provide schools with the main meals as it has always been the case. He however noted that the suspended food commodities will be reintroduced when the economy starts performing better.
According to council reports, expenditure per month on these food commodities stands at over P2 million but with the current decision it will reduce to a little over P1 million after the scale down- a 58% saving.
“With scaling down of some food commodities, expenditure per month will be reduced from P2, 629,337.17 to P1, 102,478.00 (42%) which will ultimately lead to savings of P1, 526,859.17 (58%).”
Regarding the suspension of hand stamping, Kelebetseng argued schools did had sorghum for pounding in primary schools since 2023, which hand stampers were mainly employed to do. He said hand stampers have therefore been assisting in some schools’ activities like toilets and class cleaning as well as sweeping grounds, duties that are done by cleaners who are employed in schools, assisted by Ipelegeng workers.
The decision will see around 106 hand or manual stampers being dropped and losing their monthly payments of between P600-P700.
Further, Kelebetseng revealed that some of Ipelegeng workers are owed their two months salaries though others are owed for only a month.
Deputy Council Secretary–Corporate Services, Kelebogile Daphney Keabetswe has however revealed that they received P5.6 million from the Ministry, which will cover July payments. She said the council will continue to make plans to pay the rest including owed contractors.
