21 Apr 2013

Parliament has passed the Town and Country Planning Bill of 2012 which was presented by the minister of Lands and Housing Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake last month.

The bill was passed on April 17 with one amendment to clause 2, where definition of land tribunal was altered to mean ‘such land tribunal as may be established under an Act of Parliament.’

The Bill, after coming into effect, would make provision for the orderly and progressive development of land in urban and rural areas.

It would also preserve and improve the amenities for the qualification and regulation of physical planners and connected matters.

Presenting it for debate last month, the minister said the Bill would expedite service delivery.

Mr Mokalake also said services were centralised under the old legislation, hence the need for the legislation to be amended to allow for timely delivery of services.

One of the changes brought by the Bill was the establishment of planning authorities at local authority level, a move aimed at decentralising planning functions to the local authorities.

That is expected to eliminate bureaucratic delays in determination of planning applications.

The Bill has further provided for the establishment of an Appeals Committee where those aggrieved by decisions of the director of Town and Regional Planning regarding registration of physical planners, suspension or cancellation of membership, would lodge their complaints. ENDS