19 Nov 2018

Minister of Transport and Communications Mr Kitso Mokaila says the ministry will, early next year, finalise the issue of arrears owed to Disaneng ward residents who were affected by Maun International Airport expansion.

Speaking at Maun kgotla meeting to update the residents about the issue recently, Minister Mokaila attributed the delay in finalising the matter to failure to comply with regulations and lack of proper records on what transpired during the initial compensation.

Minister Mokaila noted that the matter dated back to 2004 when the residents from Botshabelo and Moeti made way for Maun airport expansion and said although affected residents were compensated, they had long raised concerns of underpayment for their plots and developments.

However, he said it had been a challenge for the ministry to release government funds to pay the arrears without supporting information, adding that funds had been secured and the ministry was yet to submit a request to Cabinet for a go ahead to pay affected people.

He promised that the intention was to finalise necessary steps by first quarter of 2019 and said the ministry had since involved auditors and relevant professionals to ensure there are no double payouts.

He said investigation on assessments has been ongoing in the past two years and it had come to light that some affected people were over paid, some paid accordingly while some were underpaid. 

Mr Mokaila said the findings would assist in paying with interest only the underpaid for delay in settling the compensation.

Permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Kabelo Ebineng said assessment had revealed that out of 1 354 plot owners, about 1 039 or less were to be paid arrears. 

He said delay in settling the debts was also caused by lack of inspection reports, which were key, where plot owners were paid loss of right of land as well as property and developments.

He said although there were no inspection reports, the ministry had track records of cheques paid, which would help curb deceit. 

Mr Ebineng therefore requested the affected residents of Disaneng to cooperate and provide truthful information to help speed up the process.

In his remarks, area MP, Mr Konstatinos Markus urged residents to be honest in their submissions and expressed  hope that the issue would be addressed soon as the minister promised.

One resident Mr Phenyo Ramasu complained that the money received was far less the worth of their properties. 

Kgosi Cosmos Lelathego of Moeti ward said there was a challenge in some cases where people were paid in piecemeals  for the same plot. ENDS