Kgatleng District Council (KDC) has learnt that 20 Poverty Eradication and 15 non-Poverty Eradication backyard tree nurseries are operational and had generated a total revenue of P62,780 for the period of April 2022 to September 2022.

While a total of P2,072,020.20 was generated from local and export sales of sengaparile, mosukudu and mosukujane by Matebeleng Milling Company and a total of 1,159 tree seedlings have been produced in the government tree nursery for afforestation programme and 2,192 trees were planted in community projects, around homes and government institutions from April to September 2022.

When briefing councillors recently, KDC chairperson, Daniel Molokwe said: “It is worth noting that Kgatleng District tree planting day this year, 2022/2023 will be held at Kgomodiatshaba and also be informed that the fire breaks maintenance for 2023/24 are earmarked for June 2023.

From April to October this year, a total of 25 wild land fires were reported. The fire out breaks were in areas around Artesia, Oliphant, Mololwane and Ramotlabaki.” He said the most significant damages recorded and observed during the ongoing fire season was loss of pasture for animals since most of the veld fires were in the rangelands.

Molokwe said the total burnt area by end of September/October was 691.1 hectares.

He added although the fires were extinguished, it was not smooth as there were prevalent winds. In addition, he said other challenges experienced were inaccessibility due to lack of access routes, late arrival of volunteers, failure to maintain firebreaks and on a sad note, there was an injury of a community fire suppression volunteer. He continued; “Bagaetsho, this is a hectic exercise I know and I really sympathise with those who were hurt during the exercise.

May I also express my gratitude to all the stakeholders who participated in suppressing the fires before much damage could be done to the vegetation, animals and human beings.”

On the issue of Youth Development Fund (YDF), he said the office has targeted for P397,199.75 per quarter but managed to collect P25,300. He said the youth are reluctant to service their loans despite their projects doing well.

The chairperson said the office has embarked on recovering loans by issuing loan statements during monitoring and engaging the youth to make repayment plans so that they make payments. He requested councillors to encourage the youth to repay the loan in any platform where they address them in the district.