Over 150 community members in and around Mahikeng Local Municipality have been empowered through the Departmental Farmer Development programme as the North-West Provincial Government’s (NWPG) Accelerated Service Delivery programme, Thuntsha Lerole, gains momentum. Thuntsha Lerole was this week about the robust delivery of services in Mahikeng following a series of similar activities that have penetrated a lot of
communities around the province. Although the programme has seen many government employees on the ground since Monday, 02 October 2023, NWPG with all its departments, and entities were collectively delivering services in and around Gelukspan and Lotlhakane villages on Friday, 06 October 2023.
MEC Desbo Mohono and Head of Department, Thupi Mokhatla led the North-West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (NWDARD) to support the locals with amongst others planting of vegetable gardens; delivery of fruit trees, seedlings, and fresh produce (Cabbage, spinach, beetroot and eggs). These much-needed inputs have
been delivered at Reteng Disability Centre in Uitkyk village, Mahole and Mokoena vegetable garden in Gelukspan as well as households in Ramatlabama, Gelukspan and Bapong villages.
Speaking during the handover of a food garden for the youth dominated Mahole and Mokoena Vegetable Garden project, MEC Mohono said it was time for the government to have a meaningful impact on the communities it serves.
“When we deliver services like these, we can close many gaps because all executive members are able to respond directly to issues relevant to their area of work without any gatekeeping, “MEC clarified.
She further said her department will ensure that many communities are empowered to curb food insecurity in the province. “The Department that I lead has a mammoth task of ensuring that families do not go to bed hungry. We therefore have taken this call by Acting Premier Nono Maloyi to penetrate communities into serious consideration.
We will make a huge impact at the end, and that is our primary objective, Mohono asserted. MEC Mohono and HoD Mokhatla further encouraged all beneficiaries to use inputs they received well so that they can have sustainable production. MEC said she will engage her counterparts so that the Reng Disability Centre, which is registered through the sister Department of Social Development is revamped and all their future endeavours can
be achieved under a safe environment. MEC is committed to adopting the centre and ensuring that it is further and constantly receives agricultural support.
The young people belonging to the Mahole and Mokoena Vegetable garden project will be placed in the Departmental EPWP programme for 12 months so that they save the funds they get from their garden production sales and use them to solely sustain their project. The leader of this project, 29-year-old Moses Mokoena expressed his gratitude for the assistance they received. Mokoena said since the inception of their 1hectare project in 2017 they had always wished for government injection. He said government assistance will go a long way in boosting their confidence to run the business. Their produce has been sold through a steady informal market in Mahikeng town. After the NWDARD support they received today, Mokoena is adamant that they would be able to enter formal markets.
With the tagline #Beke le Beke, The North-West Provincial Government’s Accelerated Service Delivery programme, Thuntsha Lerole continues weekly and is meant to impact positively on rural communities around the province.
