21 Sep 2016

Residents of Mogobane in the South East District have criticised Malete Land Board for failure to consult on crucial issues.

Residents conveyed their misgivings during a kgotla meeting addressed by Ramotswa MP, Mr Samuel Rantuana on September 20 .

Among issues that attracted a backlash from the community include the land board’s  failure to allocate show ground to farmers committee,  failure to consult on new plot allocations in the village and dragging residents of Mojadife and Lenkwaneng to court over alleged self allocation of land.

The residents said there was need to have the board dissolved as it does not represent the interest of the community.

According to Mogobane residents,  the land board should have consulted all relevant stakeholders and gone through all channels before taking the matter of Lenkwaneng and Mojadife  to court.

Earlier when addressing the residents, Mr Rantuana said efforts to engage the land board were fruitless.

On other issues,  he said the previous parliament sitting has passed a bill allowing for the introduction of electronic voting machines. 

He said community members should expect to use a voting machine in the coming elections once the bill is signed into law.

However, he said consultations on the change had been inadequate, hence there is more to be done for the implementation of the law if the bill is signed. 

 He said parliament has also passed a bill allowing for the increase of especially elected members of parliament from four to six as well as whistle blowing bill to protect whistle blowers.

In addition,  Mr Rantuana said the next parliament sitting might convene as early as October to allow for packed parliament business.

Further, he said parliament will among others discuss NDP 11 and said he was hopeful that the development plan would have projects for the area.

He said NDP 11 would start next year when the current NDP 10 comes to an end and further added that Vision 2036 would also start next year.

On other comments, Kgosi Nobi Moilwa of Mogobane encouraged the residents to work together to ensure a successful 50^th of independence celebrations.

He said the money allocated to the community is not enough hence the need for them to join hands and add to the already allocated funds. Ends