Galerekwe Virginia Tsotso Tlhapi
Health and Safety/Women in Uniform
Nominee's Province:
North West
Project Name/Description:
Philanthropist
The community first – this is the embodiment that Tsotso, as she is affectionately called by many, has come to define. Tsotso, with her roots in Lerome village in Moses Kotane Local Municipality, continues to define what social transformation should mean for communities. She is someone known as being fully aware of her roots and how she was brought up, hence her dedication and devotion to uplifting those less fortunate. Driven by a deep sense of purpose, Tsotso has emerged as a catalyst for change, impacting lives across generations. Through her visionary leadership, she has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have expanded access to education and improved living conditions for black children and their families. Among the many initiatives she has championed are programmes improving access to education for children in under-resourced areas, through the provision of food parcels for the Grade 12s during exam preparation camps. She also runs initiatives that donate food parcels and stationery for matriculants at various schools, such as Matlhare Mokautu Secondary School, Reipuseng High School at Vrede 1, both in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality. She has also assisted the elderly and vulnerable groups in Riet Spruit, particularly in places such as Otshepeng Home based and Tshwaragang Social Club. One of her passions is access to water, hence her intervention in the drilling and installation of boreholes at BF Morake Primary School and Monakato Secondary School. These are rural schools that were struggling with access to clean running water. Tsotso, having held several positions at local and provincial levels, is currently North West’s MEC for sports, arts, and culture in the North West.
