09 Oct 2024

The preparations and developments for the utilisation of land allocated to Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture to serve as youth incubation centre at Moshaweng are underway.

This youth incubation project land, measuring 9.3 hectares, was allocated to Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture in May 2015 through land bank initiative.

An official from the ministry in Letlhakeng, Ms Setshego Makgatle said in a recent interview that the ministry acquired this land with the intention to accommodate  youth projects.

She explained that in this mixed land use, they would house horticultural and poultry projects, and the land would remain under the ministry’s custody.

The youth incubation project at Moshaweng, she said was intended to relief youth from exorbitant rentals costs that hindered the growth of their businesses.

To develop this land, she said they depended solely on funds from the ministry.

Ms Mokgatle said in the 2021/22 financial year, they were allocated P1 million but the bulk of the money went to waste as they hit a blank spot while drilling a borehole, despite comprehensive water surveying.

In 2022/2023, she said they were granted P244 000 and P3.7 million in 2024 /2025. The funds, she said were used to successfully drill a borehole, yielding 4.8 cubic metres and fence the whole area.

Ms Mokgatle said a portion of funds allocated was used for construction of a water reservoir with capacity of 98 000 litres, setting up temporary structure used as store room and installation of porta cabin used as a guard room.

She said due to lack of activity, the bush kept on growing, despite periodic debushing efforts.

Ms Makgatle said they were experiencing challenges such as incidents of theft, including the theft of solar panels, inverter and vandalism of the fence.

She said up to this day such equipment had not been recovered, describing the situation as a draw back.

Future developments, Ms Makgatle said included construction of poultry houses, installation of solar tower light and provision of ablution facilities at the site.

Nonetheless, she said the ministry’s partnership with Letlhakeng council was encouraging, saying the council was important especially in terms technical expertise.

Ms Mokgale said the delay in release of funds, particularly last year, was an inconvenience in terms funds utilization.

She anticipated that the land would house at least four poultry projects and four horticulture projects but she said they would engage Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) to help them in brainstorming potential additional possible agricultural activities.

Ms Makgatle was confident that the land would benefit the community of Letlhakeng District. ENDS