09 Dec 2014

Palapye Sub-land Board is experiencing a challenge of a high number of people who have not claimed their land rights since the Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and System (LAPCAS) project started.

This land management project entails among others, development of a new unique plot numbering system that will facilitate a land information system, surveying and initiating the national land registration exercise that would clearly capture information on who owned what piece of land and where as well as improving record management at land authorities.

Responding to a questionnaire, Palapye Sub-land board official, Mr Mothaka Silas said since the project started last year, the land board has surveyed 12 260 plots in Palapye by end of November.

The board, he added experienced a low turn up by claimants to claim their land rights, adding that of the 12 260 surveyed plots, only 5506 people had claimed their land rights whilst 6754 claimants had not.

He said the expectation was that the land board should be having the same number of claimants tallying with surveyed plots.

Prior to starting this project, he said different stakeholders including the community were sensitised over the importance of registering their plots, adding that the land board continuously consults the community through kgotla meetings and road shows.

Another challenge, he said was a low turn-up by claimants to register their plots. In addition, Mr Silas said some plots in Palapye have not yet been registered with the land board as a result of issues of inheritance and family disputes. He said such issues are gradually resolved by dikgosi.

The landboard through the LAPCAS project, he said has covered all wards in Palapye including extensions and part of extension 10 and 11.The land board is only left with plot inspections for extensions six, seven, nine and part of extension 10 and 11, he said.Mr Silas said that despite these challenges, the project was going well including the LAPCAS one. ENDS