Vice president hands over a house to Mokolodi family

I wish to appreciate the opportunity that enables me to pontificate; the opportunity to pronounce and reflect on fond memories of my time at St Joseph’s College. This is a momentous occasion to essentially pay tribute and celebrate the life of one of our own Old Associated Khalian (OAK), Mr William Placid who died indigent on 1 July 2006 without any shelter for the family. His wife died on 31 October 2007, and they are both buried at St Joseph’s College.??The late William and his elder brother George originated from Tshane in Northern Kgalagadi. Their parents died when they were young. In the fifties, the then expatriate District Commissioner for Kgalagadi, who was a Catholic requested the Catholic mission in Khale to adopt them.

Since Father Superior at the time was Father Placid, they were given the surname Placid.┬á┬á When the two boys arrived at Kgale I was there, I think it was 1956.┬á It is not hearsay for me. They attended Forest Hill Primary School (part of St. Joseph’s College).┬á After leaving school, William worked in the school kitchen for some years, but later left for chores elsewhere without any contact with the Mission in later years. He was found by the OAKS in Mokolodi after a search for a number of years, when he was already old and sickly in 2005. He could not even access social benefits in the country because he did not have a national identification card. The OAKS through Bishop Setlalekgosi arranged for him to obtain Omang, so that he could access health facilities and social benefits.

Unfortunately he died a year later.??Words cannot sufficiently say how pleased I am to realise the completion of Mr. Placid’s housing project which I launched in October 2008 during the 80th Anniversary of the Alumni of St Joseph’s College, Khale, commonly referred to as the Old Associated Khalians or OAKS. I stand tall and pleased for the noble project which reflects Christian love, compassion, caring for one another and the epitome of missionary work. ??The Placid family comprising a female child of 42 years, a total of 13 siblings being his children and grandchildren, has been dignified; their status in society is uplifted. They had all along been accommodated by Placid’s mother-in-law, in a one-roomed house plus another unfinished one-roomed house at Mokolodi. In view of the challenging social circumstances of the family, the OAKS recognised the urgency of providing some accommodation. ?? I wish to commend St Joseph’s College in partnership with the OAKS to have collaborated with Letshego Financial Services in providing the Placid family with a suitable and decent accommodation.

Mr. Moses Lekaukau has played a critical role not only in initiating the idea of the house and organising OAKs but also in influencing
Letshego’s participation. Construction of the 2 bed-roomed house with kitchen, sitting room, bathroom and toilet is estimated at P300,000. I further appreciate that amidst budgetary constraints, Letshego pledged P240,000 towards the project.┬á Letshego’s support of the project is indeed consistent with the company’s commitment to improving the welfare and uplifting the lives of the underprivileged, and further supporting the Presidential Housing Appeal, which Letshego has contributed to, and I believe will continue to contribute to. Letshego deserves to be commended for providing furniture and bedding as well.?? It is pleasing that various organisations have benefitted from Letshego’s Corporate Social Responsibility policy. The beneficiaries include SOS, Childline, Lifeline, Masiela Trust Fund, Botswana Substance Abuse Support Network (Bosasnet), Cancer Association of Botswana (CAB), etc. The President’s Housing Appeal has also benefited twelve houses from this policy. In addition, discretionary donations are made during the year in response to specific requests for assistance from a variety of organizations. ??

I am inspired that St Joseph’s College and the OAKS in collaboration with Letshego have responded positively to the ideals of the National Vision of promoting a compassionate and caring nation, and the project resonates well with the Presidential Housing Appeal. I am hopeful that the Presidential Housing Appeal will be sustained. Todate previous donors including individuals, residents, public officers, parastatals, private and public sectors have built and completed 365 houses with 25 under construction. ?? I wish to applaud the donors for the positive response to complement the Government in assisting the underprivileged in society. ??Government has devised several initiatives and continues to commit huge financial resources towards the improvement of lives of Batswana. In this regard, P42,300,000 is proposed for the Social Welfare and Development Programme to construct 400 houses for destitute persons country-wide, including the Remote Area Development settlements (RADs) in the 2014/15 budget for the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development.

??In conclusion, ostensibly, we are gathered here this morning to handover this house to the Placid family.┬á This is good and fulfilling.┬á But the sobering consideration is where and how it all started.┬á District Commissioner Atkins approached the Roman Catholic Missionaries to adopt the orphans.┬á The orphans found a home at St. Josephs College.┬á The tall and placid Father Placid received the children.┬á The children were received because the missionaries had a mission.┬á The mission not only to preach the word of God but also to do good, to care for and support humanity in whatever form or manner.┬á The Latin derivative of the word “mission” is “missio” meaning “send” or “go roma” in Setswana.┬á It denotes the sending of the Holy Spirit into the world. I wish to thank everyone heartily for the good spirit of supporting and caring for one another.

These were remarks by Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe at the handing over of a house to the
Placid family in Mokolodi on May 10, 2014.