Bokone Bophirima MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Collen Maine took the lead in heeding to the recent call by Premier Supra Mahumapelo for members of the Executive Council and Senior Government Managers to buy lunches for themselves when having meeting and support small and emerging businesses especially in the villages, townships and small dorpies.
In his State of the Province Address on Friday, Premier Mahumapelo said the Executive Council has resolved that as a way of curbing administration costs, in so far as catering for the Executive Council and Senior Management meetings are concerned, these senior government officials will be expected to buy lunches from their own pockets and support local businesses.
MEC Maine who had a meeting in Madibeng Local Municipality regarding the illegal occupation in Ward 26 and 28, and further inspected housing projects in different areas of the municipality, flocked the busy corner street restaurant together with officials of his department, in Brits next to R566 road leading Mothutlung for lunch.
Before having his meal MEC Maine said "We have heard the Premier very well during his state of the province address and we are now heeding to his call. These businesses which have been established by our needy people, needs our support and if we can't support them as government officials and the executive who else do we expect to support them. I'll like to encourage all government officials especially senior managers and members of the executive to avoid the fancy and expensive restaurants and support these small businesses" he said.
On the menu one can have your African dishes which include pap or dumpling with tripe (mogodu or diretlo), tshotlho, local chicken which is popularly known as hardbody, beef stew, chopped cow head meat and cow feet (ditlhakwana).
The co-owner of the business Elisa (36) said "we really appreciate the support by the MEC and his officials. This is the support that we are looking for as small enterprises so that we can grow and improve our businesses. We are mostly supported by drivers of the vehicles which pass by such as trucks and bakkies. If we can get constant support of this nature from government officials, we will go too far and it will encourage us to improve our services so that we can attract a lot of customers" she said.
After completing his dish MEC Maine said it was delicious and thinks they even taste much better than the food from fancy restaurants which officials wastes a lot of money on.
