By BAKANG MOKOTO
11 February 2025- The North West MEC for Economic Development Environment Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said the Food Lovers Market is a popular grocery and vegetable outlet stationed at Mega City in Mahikeng. Lenkopane said the news of pending closure of this important food outlet, prompted her to intervene with the sole objective of preventing possible job losses and livelihoods.
Lenkopane further said, according to the outcome of the meeting with management of Food Lovers Market, the lease signed between the company and Mega City Management has come to an end and negotiations of renewal have failed. She added that other risk factors such as security concerns have contributed to the pending closure of Food Lovers Market.
“It is envisaged that another popular brand Boxer Superstore will occupy the space, where Food Lovers Market is situated at Mega City. However, I was able to negotiate the absorption of Food Lovers Market employees into Boxer Superstore.
“In another separate event, we received a call from the employees of another popular eatery in Mahikeng, Buffalo Lodge, which is also facing possible closure. Close to 20 staff members are likely to lose their jobs,” said Lenkopane.
She said she is currently negotiating with owners of Buffalo Lodge with the objective of allowing employees to be incubated into business management programs and continue to run the place. Lenkopane said the acting Head of Department, Relebohile Mofokane has addressed employees at the Golden Leopard Resort (GLR) amid challenges faced by the entity.
“The department has turned the tide at GLR, where the entity has been swimming in a sea of financial mismanagement and debts for the past three years. Employees had to go home empty handed for several months with the entity failing to pay their salaries and their third party deductions that include tax and provident funds amongst others.
“Many passed on and/or retired without any pay-outs. In the past six months, the department managed to settle all third party deductions and made provisions for salaries,” she said.
Lenkopane said she is confident that GLR will perform better in the new financial year.
The Guardian 