26 Jul 2018

Letlhakeng Sub-landboard secretary, Ms Doreen Kenaleeng said there was nothing legally preventing the board from allocating ploughing fields between the settlements of Kgare/Sebotswane and the nearby village of Ditshegwane.

Ms Kenaleeng said at Letlhakeng Sub-district Council meeting that currently, the two places are not recognised as legal settlements and therefore the sub-landboard has no legal basis to refuse allocating ploughing fields in anticipation that they would one day be declared settlements and incorporated into Ditshegwane as was the wish of the council.

She also indicated that a task force was once set up by the Kweneng District Council to look into the issue, which later recommended that the two places be incorporated into Ditshegwane as a ward.

She however said that there had not been any feedback from the ministry on whether the recommendation had been approved or not.

“As the sub-landboard, we cannot act on a recommendation as it is not a law. We can only await approval from the ministry in the form of a directive,” Ms Kenaleeng said.

She was responding to Councillor for Ditshegwane-Maboane, Mr Tsabahule Kgothang, whose ward also covers the two, had asserted that there had been concerns on the continued allocation of ploughing fields between those places and Ditshegwane.

He said this would hamper any efforts of the two places developing towards Ditshegwane should they be incorporated as a ward.

“The idea was that once the two places have been declared settlements, there should be residential plot allocations between them and Ditshegwane so that ultimately, they would merge into one place, but now allocation of ploughing fields in between would kill that dream,” Mr Kgothang said.

Councillor for Ngware, Mr Ontatlhile Selatlho also raised similar concerns, saying that continued allocation of ploughing fields between the two would likely cost government in the future in compensations, should there be a need to relocate the ploughing fields.

Letlhakeng North Councillor, Ms Stella Segwagwa also suggested that the issue should be thoroughly discussed between the landboard and the council to come up with the best solution.

She said this was because there seems to be two different conclusions on the status of the places between the two authorities. ENDS