25 Nov 2015

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ms Botlogile Tshireletso has told Parliament that she is not aware  that Maisane village has been removed from the jurisdiction of Lotlhakanae East to Molapowabojang without due consultation.

However she stated that she is aware that in terms of spatial settlement growth, Maisane is planned to grow eastwards towards Molapowabojang. Ms Botlogile said there is no laid down procedure for removing a settlement from one jurisdiction to the other.

She said the National Settlement Policy of 2004 clearly states the procedure and criteria for recognising new settlements.

The assistant minister said, “this criteria includes population, size, nearness to other settlements that have existing services, historical background of the settlement, availability of land for settlement purposes and other uses and the need to preserve fertile soils.”

She said this is the criteria that was used and adopted by the Southern District to arrive at its decision to recommend the settlement for expansion towards Molapowabojang.

Ms Tshireletso said Maisane has not been placed under Molapowabojang but is to be spatially planned in such a way that it grows towards Molapowabojang as opposed to 4km from Lotlhakane East.
She said the overriding consideration was distance which has an impact on the cost of service provision.

She highlighted that there are no known co-owned properties that the ministry through the Southern District is aware of adding that there are some public facilities such as Kgotla shelter, Mobile health stop and primary school in Maisane of which all these are public facilities which all Batswana are entitled to benefit from.

MP for Kanye South Mr Abram Kesupile had asked the minister if she is aware of the claim by residents of Lotlhakane East that Maisane village has been removed from the jurisdiction of Lotlhakane East to Molapowabojang without due consultation.

He further asked her to state the procedure for removing a settlement from one jurisdiction to the other and the reasons for placing Maisane under Molapowabojang and what happened to the property co- owned by Maisane and Lotlhakane East. Ends