28 Mar 2013

 

Jwaneng Town Council has recently approved a total of 434 Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) plot applications.

The approved applications, which date as far back as 1988, consist of 295 low income low and 139 low income middle plots situated at Environmental Unit 8 (EU8).

Speaking at a kgotla meeting in Jwaneng recently, the town Mayor, Mr Amos Jahana noted that even though there was acute shortage of serviced land in the town, the approved applications were a source of hope to the community.

Mr Jahana also said the approved applications were for the period between 1988 and 1993, adding there were still over 1900 applications on the waiting list.

Despite acknowledging residents’ concerns about the delay in servicing, he reminded that it was also expensive to do it, especially that the country was still reeling from the economic recession.

He said even though some areas in town had been surveyed, there was no money to service the land so that plots could be allocated. Thus, he discouraged beneficiaries from selling plots, saying land was a valuable commodity.

“These plots are your children’s heritage and they can go a long way in improving your state of living,” he said.

Mr Jahana also encouraged those who did not have the money to utilise other programmes such as the Turnkey and Home Improvement to develop their plots.

On the other hand, residents applauded the council for the allocations.

However, they decried the delay in allocating land arguing that had left some people unable to develop their plots since they were now out of jobs.

They also raised concerns about the policy that denied the children to inherit their deceased parents’ plots.

Some residents were also concerned about the slow allocation of civic plots for churches.

One resident, Mr Lebotsakgotla Mmelesi said it was important for the council to service land and speed up allocations because people were losing their financial capacity to develop plots.

“Somebody applies for a plot and he is only allocated after he has retired from work and does not have the means to develop such a plot. The end result is selling of undeveloped plots to those with money,” he said.

He said the acute shortage of accommodation in Jwaneng was a cause for concern and needed to be addressed adding that most people commuted from Sese because they could not afford rent for BHC houses at EU 8, despite the poor road condition.

In response, the deputy town clerk-finance, Mr Leano Mokete explained that the law did allow that children could not inherit their deceased parents’ land.

He said only a legally married spouse could claim such a plot if the other party died before allocation.

He also acknowledged that there were some pieces of land around town, which he said were for recreational purposes and the council was still looking at ways of developing them so that they could be used for their intended purpose.ENDS