Minister apologises to Sotho Kids at the welcoming ceremony

The Minister of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture, Motlatsi Maqelepo, has expressed regret that the Sotho Kids group did not receive support during their trip to Europe to promote and showcase the Basotho culture and the country as a whole.

In his speech at a ceremony to welcome the group today, Mr Maqelepo praised and appreciated the great work done by the group.
However, he said that providing support of any kind from the ministry’s side must be done within the available budget which is why they failed to assist.

However, he thanked them for the outstanding performance they delivered, which showed that the country can indeed be marketed through such initiatives. He promised that next year, the creative sector will be included in the ministry’s budget plans so that it can be supported as much as possible, as there are many requests for assistance from young Basotho who represent and put the country on the international map.

He concluded by honouring them with a crafted wood souvenir with a message of appreciation, T-shirts, and mugs inscribed with each member’s name.
The founder and manager of the group, Mr. Makhebe Seatlana, told Mohale FM that although they left feeling unsupported, the following they gained encouraged them greatly.
He said during their two-month stay in Europe, their Facebook followers grew from 43,000 to 182,000, while on Instagram, the numbers rose from 8,700 to 10,500.

He made a plea to those responsible to uplift the talents of the youth because in other countries this is something that promotes success and helps address youth unemployment.
The Sotho Kids group toured Europe, representing Lesotho and the continent of Africa as the only group from Africa. They promoted the country’s culture and identity through dance, traditional attire, and speeches.