26 Jan 2025

Kgalagadi North Member of Parliament, Mr Reason Lekhutlhane has called on residents of Zutswa to explore value-added opportunities in salt production during a recent consultative kgotla meeting.

Speaking during a community consultative meeting in Zutshwa recently, Mr Lekhutlhane emphasised the potential for business growth through the Zutswa Salt Project, which when fully operational aimed to benefit local residents primarily.

“There is potential for business growth on the salt mined by Zutswa Salt Project. Our plan is to ensure that the community benefits before anyone else,” he stated.

He urged the youth in particular to seek out value-added product opportunities that could generate income and empower the community through job creation.

“The mine located nearby can provide ample opportunities. We should explore the production of value-added products for human consumption, animal consumption, and industrial use, especially given the growing manufacturing sector,” he said.

Mr Lekhutlhane pointed the diverse industrial applications of salt and encouraged the residents to leverage the natural resource at their disposal. He highlighted salt’s importance as a critical industrial raw material, suggesting that salt production could indirectly generate sustainable jobs across various sectors, including leather goods, textiles, building materials, and cosmetics.

While acknowledging that the Zutswa Salt Project was currently functional, Mr Lekhutlhane admitted that it remained under-capitalised and not fully operational.

“I will advocate for investment to attract interested parties,” he assured the residents, adding that consultations with the responsible ministry would be essential for aligning the project with its approved business plan.

The MP expressed optimism about the potential for salt export, noting that it was a globally essential commodity, thus presenting significant opportunities for the community.

Additionally, Mr Lekhutlhane addressed local infrastructure concerns, revealing his awareness that the recent solar village electrification project sponsored by Huawei did not extend to residents, leaving a service gap.

He said  he planned  to consult on whether the existing plant could be expanded while also mentioning that there were companies interested in establishing solar power plants for public consumption at a pre-paid fee.

The MP pledged robust service delivery, emphasising his commitment to prioritising water delivery, road construction, and village electrification.

Mr Lekhutlhane reaffirmed the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) party mandate to fulfill campaign promises and addressed concerns about delays in monthly pension payments for elders.

“The P1800 monthly pension will soon be paid,” he reassured, attributing delays to depleted government funds.

He also affirmed that the promised P2500 tertiary monthly allowance and P300 monthly support for parents of newborns would be fulfilled.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Abathene Kabatlhophane highlighted the poor state of the Hukuntsi-Zutswa road, which hindered access to essential services. He sought financial support for the Zutswa Salt Project, noting that it was currently unprofitable and facing production challenges during the winter months.

Kgosi Kabatlhophane also raised concerns about water shortages and the lack of potable water in the village. He said the youth were eager to establish businesses such as poultry but were hindered by lack of electricity. ENDS