Full Council Meeting Boycotted Over Unpaid Ipelegeng Salaries

Members of the Okavango District Council have boycotted their full council meeting, vowing not to resume until Ipelegeng workers in the district are paid their outstanding four-month salaries.

Speaking to The Midweek Sun, the Deputy Chairperson of the Okavango District Council, Brian Samoka, revealed that the council on Tuesday resolved to adjourn its meeting and mandated him to engage the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, his Permanent Secretary, and the National Coordinator of Ipelegeng on the matter.

“I called them, and they told me that 19 councils have received Ipelegeng funds, while 12 are still waiting. Among those yet to be paid is the Okavango District,” Samoka said.

He said the full council would not reconvene until workers’ salaries are settled.

The councillor explained the gravity of the situation, noting that Okavango is one of the most poverty-stricken districts in the country, with nearly 7,000 people employed under Ipelegeng.

“The norm is that Ipelegeng workers buy food on credit from local tuckshops and borrow money to survive, with the understanding that they will repay once their wages are released. With this delay, both the workers and the tuckshops are suffering. Dimausu di ole,” he lamented.

Boycotting the council meeting, Samoka said, is a deliberate move to apply pressure on the ministry to act swiftly.

“The final decision is that councillors will not sit until workers are paid. My job is to act on resolutions of the full council, so I cannot differ with the decision,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs recently issued a press release acknowledging the delays, citing broader financial constraints caused by slow economic performance.

It, however, reassured the public that Ipelegeng remains a key government flagship programme.

“Despite these challenges, Government continues to prioritise critical social support programmes. The Ministry wishes to assure the public that there are no intentions to stop Ipelegeng, and beneficiaries will receive their allowances in return,” the statement said.