13 Jun 2018

The Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi says his  ministry as land managers, allocates surface rights while the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security allocates prospecting and mining rights.

Mr Moipisi told Parliament on Tuesday that both surface and mining rights were a required in order for an applicant to start operating burrow pits.

He said Malete Land Board had allocated surface rights at Tleberwane to South East District Council in June 2014.

The assistant minister said he was not aware of any double allocation of a burrow pit at Tleberwane.Mr Moipisi also told Parliament that he was not aware of any delay of projects by South East District Council arising out of double allocation since the surface rights which the council applied for were allocated by Malete Land Board within two months of application.

He said South East District Council ought to have applied for permission to mine gravel from Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Services.

The Member of Parliament for Ramotswa Mr Samuel Rantuana had asked if it was true that there has been a double allocation of the Tleberwane Burrow Pit and as such the South East District Council could not use it.ENDS