27 Mar 2019

Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi has said that consultation was part and parcel of the democratic process and was enshrined in our government and culture. 

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Morwamosu on March 26, Mr Moipisi said that this was evident in the recent report of the cabinet sub-committee on the hunting ban social dialogue that government undertook on whether to end the current hunting ban or not. 

“It was evident that most people had reservations on the hunting ban, so it was necessary to consult all affected stakeholders to get their input,” he said.

Mr Moipisi assured the residents that the same processes would be undertaken when farms are demarcated in the nearby wildlife management area, popularly known in the area as SO2. 

Mr Moipisi said that in 2012 the then president issued a directive that the area should be demarcated into farms, and that the report was currently before the relevant minister for input before being presented to the President.

Mr Moipisi was responding after most residents indicated concerns that the final decision would be taken without their input. 

One resident, Mr James Khumanego suggested that the President should visit Morwamosu and other affected villages to address them and get their views before making a final decision. 

He said this was vital in making an informed decision as the task force team might give him a wrong impression about the issue on the ground. 

On other issues, Mr Moipisi informed residents that in 2017, two vital Bills on land were passed before Parliament, although they were just recently signed into law and are yet to be implemented.

He said the Bills were the Deeds Registry Amendment Bill and the Tribal Land Bill, and that the former would save people’s costs as the new residential certificate under the law would carry the same weight as a title deed. 

“The current practice is that when one wants a loan to develop their plot, they are required to have a tittle deed, which is expensive as one has to hire land surveyors,” he said. 

Mr Moipisi also noted the challenges of land shortage in Morwamosu and expressed confidence that soon the 215 residents on the waiting list for residential plots would be allocated.

Mr Moipisi said this in light of Kgosi Boitelo Gaogakwe’s welcome remarks that his village had a dire challenge of land shortage as it was surrounded by wildlife management, area, Community Based Natural Resources Management and the border with Kgalagadi District on the other side.

“These three areas suffocate our village such that we have nowhere to graze our cattle, especially that the wildlife management area is quite broad. 

Such a shortage also makes it difficult for residents to enjoy government initiatives such as LIMID that require land,” he said.

 Kgosi Gaogakwe also pleaded with the minister to advocate for at least two boreholes for residents to water their cattle as such a shortage of land made it difficult for them to apply for boreholes.

Mr Moipisi assured him that such an arrangement exists within government policies, and advised resident to liaise with the Department of Animals Production for the arrangement to be considered. 

He also informed them that arrangement to connect two existing borehole for domestic use was being considered. 

For his part, Jwaneng/Mabutsane Member of Parliament, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile advised the minister that the issue of farm demarcation at the wildlife management area had been dragging on for too long and that it was time to put it to rest. 

He also indicated that history had shown that in most cases when farms were demarcated and advertised, it always benefited people with money while the surrounding communities were relegated to farm hands. 

He urged the minister to guard against such. ends