19 Jan 2017

Residents of Legothwana settlement have complained about lack of developments in their area due to delay in upgrading their settlement to a village status.
Kgosi Kenatje Kandapaera of Toteng made the remarks when welcoming the Member of Parliament for Ngami, Mr Thato Kwerepe at a Kgotla meeting on Wednesday.

Kgosi Kandapaera said Legothwana has had about three chiefs who had succeeded one another but to this date the settlement has not been gazetted while some places which came after Legothwana had long been recognised.

He noted that although the settlement has a primary school, the residents were not entitled to amenities such as stand pipes for water connection.

Kgosi Kandapaera therefore pleaded with Mr Kwerepe, who is also the Assistant Minister of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration to continue advocating for Legothwana residents.

The Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Lefatshe Kelesitse complained that Legothwana Primary School tents which provide residential accommodation for staff and classroom accommodation for pupils were uncomfortable .

Ms Kelesitse further complained about their dilapidated Kgotla shelter, adding that it could not be renovated since their area was ungazetted.

She also said Legothwana residents were scarcely benefitting from various government programmes.

However,MP Kwerepe pointed out that the residents of Legothwana were entitled to benefit from government programmes like any regardless of the status of their area.

Legothwana settlement, he said would be recognised by government, no matter how long it took.

Mr Kwerepe therefore urged the residents to have hope, pointing out that it was a long process since a list of settlements together with Legothwana were submitted to Cabinet for consideration.

He said it was upon the villagers to decide on what projects they would spend the P10 million Constituency Development Fund they will be allocated.

Mr Kwerepe however allayed the Legothwana residents’ fears that they would not have a share as their area was ungazetted area, assuring them that they would also benefit from the nearby villages of Sehithwa or Toteng. BOPA