23 Feb 2015

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen says Section 8 of the Local Government Act No. 18 of 2012, empowers the minister to declare a settlement a township regardless of its location within tribal land or otherwise.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen was responding to a question in Parliament from the Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Kostantinos Markus.

Parliament learnt that in making such a decision, a number of factors are considered such as mineral developments, agro-commercial or industrial developments, any other developments that might be carried out, the social structure of the area, physical infrastructure, employment opportunities, economic activities, administrative structures and the cost implications thereto.

In this regard, the assistant minister said consideration to declare Maun a town was subject to consultations with the District Council, Dikgosi and community of the area. “Under the circumstances, I currently do not have any time frame within which I could consider declaring Maun a town,” he added.

Mr Markus wanted to know if Maun did not qualify to be a town and when it would be declared a town. ENDS