03 Apr 2014

Scores of Kgalagadi District councillors, on April 2 vehemently advocated for an ungazetted McCarthy’s Rust to be a recognised settlement where the inhabitants would enjoy full benefits like other Batswana in recognised settlement.

This came after a savingram from permanent secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development stated that, “with respect to McCarthy’s Rust, you informed us that its population is 217, hence below the minimum threshold of 500 inhabitants as per the national settlement policy of 2004.”

The savingram addressed to the district council secretary further stated that McCarthy’s Rust was reportedly predominantly communal and it was 25km from Tsabong. Councillors argued that they had recommended that Humond, McCarthy’s Rust, Logaganeng and Inversnuit be recognised as settlements.

However, only Humond was incorporated into Kokotsha, Logaganeng merged with Maubelo whilst Inverstnuit was incorporated with Vaalhoek. Councilors felt rubbed the wrong way when the savingram further stated that they had played a part in informing the ministry not to recognise McCarthy’s Rust.

The savingram had it that, “based on this information and resolution from the district, cabinet took a decision through Presidential Directive cab. 18 (SP)/2013 that based on the national settlement policy, 2004 and the set criteria, McCarthy’s Rust does not qualify to be recognised as a settlement.”

Contrary to the contents of the savingram councillors felt hard done by the decision and passionately denied ever being party to the resolution. As a result, they maintained that they would send a delegation to meet with the minister to push ahead their intention of having McCarthy’s Rust recognised and ultimately receiving services that other recognised villages are enjoying.

“We don’t want a situation whereby we will have people relocated whilst leaving behind structures built with taxpayers’ money,” Cllr Kemmonye Makatane of Kang North said and questioned why the government agreed to building a primary school, engaging a headman of record and availing a health post inter alia at the embattled settlement.

Cllr Makatane dismissed the savingram for not coming closer to addressing the concerns they raised back then. Subsequently, Mr Makatane called for a supplementary resolution for the minister to address the council.

“As a service provider, we are expected to take services to the people not to have people hunt for services,” Cllr Milton Moseru of Hukuntsi West said.

He further argued that the revised education policy headed by Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe has it that kids cannot travel for more than four kilometres to schools.

It is from this that Mr Moseru advocated for the recognition of McCarthy’s Rust. He even asked rhetorically, “Are we going to provide the McCarthy’s Rust students with transport to come and pursue their education in Tsabong?”

Lieutenant Jeofrey Modukanele of Lehututu in supporting the reconising of McCarthy’s Rust requested that the letter that was allegedly written by council be retrieved and read to them so that they could appreciate its contents.

Lt Modukanele argued that if settlements like Khawa are recognised then the same facility should be extended to McCarthy’s Rust since both settlements’ populations were below the set standards.

Other councilors unanimously alleged that officers could have gone behind their backs and wrote a letter in support of not recognising the area and presented the views as those of the council.

“There’s need to correct that anomaly if it did happened,” said Mr Bakseno Motsamai of Boshoek.

Tsabong South councilor whose territory covers McCarthy’s Rust, Mr Samuel Brooks said that he was at pains trying to figure out how exactly could the council that unanimously agreed to the area being recognised could have changed colours so quickly and supported the status quo.

He said, “Are we going to claim that those people will be wrong to protest the upcoming general elections because they feel ill-treated by the very people claiming to be their custodians?” Mr Brooks asked rather rhetorically.

However, council chairman Mr Frans van der Westhuizen reminded councilors that they were insisting on the formation of a delegation to engage the minister.

He, like his colleagues was surprised at the contents of the letter which purported to be from council yet did not reflect the councilors input.

As a result he assigned council secretary, Mr Joshua Maluleke to detail a history of McCarthy’s Rust for presentation at the said meeting. Ends