06 Aug 2024

Preparations are at an advanced stage for the official opening of Butale kgotla shelter by His Excellency President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi on Friday.

The shelter, with a sitting capacity of of more than 150 seats was constructed at a cost of over P650 000.

Speaking in an interview recently, Kgosi Grace Butale of Butale said the idea of a new kgotla shelter was mooted during days of the country’s 50th anniversary celebrations when the roving torch was kept at the kgotla overnight.

Kgosi Butale said during that time, the shelter was not habitable with the roof leaking and cracking walls.

She said the following morning the kgotla shelter was flooded to the extent that those who were supposed to collect the roving torch to the next destination found it challenging to enter the shelter.

At that point, she said, they the idea of constructing a shelter was discussed although there were financial constraints.

“Fortunately, the time came of Community Constituency Projects (CCP) funds where we were allocated a small amount for construction, but we did not want to limit our self with a small shelter,” she said.

Kgosi Butale said they agreed on building a bigger structure as the village was bound to grow in future.

She said they then went on a benchmarking missions as far as Tonota, Mandunyane and at Makalaleng.

Kgosi noted that the community was engaged in fundraising and contributions towards the project.

She said with the assistance of the councillor for Butale/Senyawe, Mr William Tatose, they managed to demolish the old structure and were able to go on a benchmarking exercise at Makaleng.

She said as there was no community hall in the village as construction of them was stopped because they turned into white elephants in other villages, adding that they intended  to use the shelter for events, weddings, seminars, meetings and other activities.

Noting that the kgotla was housing police officer, social and community development officers, crop production officers, village development committee (VDC), new offices would create office space for other government departments in the village.

Kgosi Butale said among the expected dignitaries also include dikgosi from all the 43 villages in the North East and VDC committees.

She appreciated the fact that the shelter was constructed by a local youth who employed labourers from the same village.

Mr Tiragalo Makhila, the chairperson of the VDC, said it was all jubilations when their 2021 proposal for the shelter was approved.

Mr Makhila said their kgotla shelter was a modern and state of the art structure and urged other villages who were planning to construct theirs to consider benchmarking in Butale. Ends