08 Aug 2013

It is not acceptable for members of the Village Development Committees (VDCs) to designate themselves as permanent Ipelegeng superiors.

The assistant members of Local Government and Rural Development Ms Botlogile Tshireletso told VDC members on August 7 at Tlokweng.

Ms Tshireletso who was addressing Tlokweng VDC members said it was an open secret that some VDC members were reluctant to give the supervisory position to Ipelegeng beneficiaries even though some were capable than VDC members.

“We are concerned, in some areas VDC members are permanent superiors, we are saying let there be rotation,” she said.

The assistant minister said the practice was against the stipulated regulations adding that supervisors should be selected from capable Ipelegeng beneficiaries.

According to the assistant minister, such candidate should among others be able to read and write or be a member of a recognised committee relevant to the work being carried out.

Such candidate can also be a member of public with relevant and traceable skill as well as having demonstrated supervisory skills.“The Act is not saying such person should only be a member of VDC,” she pointed.

However Ms Tshireletso said it did not mean that VDC members were not accountable for Ipelegeng work as they were entrusted with hiring.

Further, she said that by virtue to being VDC members they were naturally expected to exhort superiorly skills at any Ipelegeng engagement at any given time.

The assistant minister further said there was evidence that some members of VDCs breed laxity and lack of supervision upon their subordinates.

In some cases, VDC members would spend more time doing personal errands hence fail to monitor performance and adherence to stipulated working conditions, as a result beneficiaries and the supervisors would be paid for the hours they have not worked for.

She added that VDC members were expected to be exemplary in their actions because they have been entrusted with public properties and to drive development.“We recognise the role of VDCs and their contribution to developments,” she said.

Earlier when briefing the assistant minister, Tlokweng Umbrella VDC chairperson Ms Boitumelo Kgosimore said they needed land for a horticulture project so as to generate money.

Further she decried that Ipelegeng beneficiaries were not paid when attending meetings called either by bogosi, government ministers and officials hence they miss on important information.

However, the assistant minster said Ipelegeng beneficiaries were allowed to attend meeting from government official and be paid.

Further, Ms Tshireletso said beneficiaries should be able to report back to work after the meetings. ENDS