07 Mar 2017

Government will use P1 255 billion to improve the water supply situation around the country in the 2017/18 financial year.
Presenting the ministry’s budget estimates for 2017/18, Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Prince Maele revealed on Monday that the bulk of the proposed development budget ofP1 255 billion would be allocated to the water supply pipelines cluster programme, which include North South Water Carriers (NSC 2.1 and 2.2) and the bridging national water supply gap (emergency water projects).

Minister Maele added that the total budget estimates for the whole ministry amounted to P3 659 667 830, something he said was an increase of 52 per cent compared to the current financial year.
He explained that the budget comprised P2 804 341 380 for development expenditure as well as P855 326 450 for recurrent spending.

Mr Maele said the second largest allocation from the development expenditure would be used for Water and Sanitation Networks cluster programme at P756 800 million, while the third largest allocation of P627 951 794 had been earmarked for projects under land development cluster programme.
“These include land servicing, land compensation and consultancy on the asset register,” he explained.

The minister further explained that the rest of the proposed development expenditure had been allocated for the sustainable land management programme, while P579 951 794 will be for projects under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), including land servicing projects, construction of landboard offices and equipping Kgalagadi North boreholes (Matsheng wellfields development).

He added that P489 924 920 from the recurrent expenditure would be used for revenue support grant for 12 landboards and their subordinate authorities, while the remaining P365 401 530 would be used for the ministry departments.
The minister also explained that works on the National Spatial Plan was at an advanced stage and was expected to be completed in March 2018.

“The focus of the plan is on analysis, interpretation and translation of Vision 2036 pillars and adding a spatial dimension to it. As of now, the National Spatial Plan has identified emerging critical national developmental issues, which include among others; misalignment of administrative boundaries to operational boundaries for some government institutions, high urbanisation rate and mushrooming of new settlements,” he said.

Once completed, he added, regional plans, settlement development plans and all other multi-sectoral plans will be expected to draw guidance from the plan.
“Essentially, this plan will lead to a more coordinated spatial planning process that will add great value to the country’s development approach,” he said.
Mr Maele also said the ministry had embarked on the participatory slum upgrading programme, which sought to uplift the urban poor from slum living conditions.
The programme, he said had three phases, which would culminate with an action plan where communities would be involved to identify challenges they were facing and come up with relevant projects to address them.

He said availing land to support national economic development programmes and meet the socio-economic needs continued to be a challenge due to competing demands and high costs of land servicing.

He said P25 380 824 had been spent to acquire 1 188 828 hectares of land for village expansion at Ngwaketse, Kgatleng, Kweneng and Rolong Landboards.
Commenting on the budget, Vice President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, also Moshupa-Manyana MP, urged the minister to ensure that ordinary people accessed land more equitably and faster.

Mr Masisi also asked the ministry to deal with the issue of land speculation and be strict on institutions that did not develop land after allocation.

He also argued that the ministry should address water provision challenges in villages of Mogonye, Moshupa and Manyana in his constituency.
Tati West MP, Mr Biggie Butale said the ministry should construct a second pump station for Ntimbale Dam in his constituency.

Mr Butale said the current pump station was unable to cope with the high demand in the Ntimbale water reticulation area.
Ramotswa MP, Mr Samuel Rantuana thanked government for making villages of Otse and Mogobane planning areas.

However, Mr Rantuana complained about the decision to view some of the residents in the two areas as squatters, saying he wondered how they could be viewed as such while they had occupied their plots for many years.

He said the issue should be rectified and affected residents be recognised as lawful owners of the plots.
He also asked the ministry to service the land in Magope area in his constituency. The ministry’s budget was subsequently adopted. ENDS