10 Aug 2015

The South East District Council was allocated 7.8619 hectares of land for the construction of sewerage treatment ponds and the remaining land was demarcated into horticultural plots which were to be irrigated using treated effluent from the ponds.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr France Van Der Westhuizen said an offer for leasing of plots was made to six potential investors and that only two responded by accepting it.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen said regrettably, there had not been any development of such plots mainly due to the absence of the lease document on the side of the council.

The assistant minister added that as a result, the ministry, through the South East District Council was working on preparing a lease and re-starting the process of utilisation of horticultural plots. He also noted that efforts were made in the past to transfer Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) ponds, but that they were not successful because the council could not avail leases.

He said the ministry, through the council, has embarked on an exercise to consolidate its immovable property inventory and that once done, transfer would be effected through various council structures.

Ramotswa MP, Mr Samuel Rantuana had asked the minister what happened to the agricultural plots at Llara sewerage ponds and when the council would hand over ponds to WUC.ENDS