12 Aug 2013

The inclusion of a Water Rights Certificate as one of the requirements for youth applications for livestock projects may be an impediment as some of the boreholes do not have the required certificates, youth, sport and culture minister, Mr Shaw Kgathi, has said.

Responding to a question from Letlhakeng MP, Mr Ngaka Ngaka, Mr Kgathi said it was important to note that this requirement was included during the 2012/2013 financial year not only as proof of the borehole ownership availability of a water source as well.

“Rather, it also gives an indication on the water quality, the borehole’s approved use and its yield, which can then be compared to the water consumption rate of the proposed project. In that connection, the only alive to the requirement was to waive it with the involvement of the water authority and the Land Board.,” he said.

He also said his officers had activated a process towards engaging these important stakeholders with a view of coming up with an alternative.

During the financial year 2012/2013, Mr Kgathi said a total of 63 out of 105 Youth project proposals for livestock production were rejected on account of failure to submit a copy of the Water Rights Certificate in the Letlhakeng West constituency.

For the current financial year, he said adjudication was still on-going.

During the same period, he said 12 project proposals for livestock production were approved in the constituency as they satisfied all the application requirements, including the Water Rights Certificate.

Mr Ngaka had asked Mr Kgathi whether he was aware that water rights as a requirement for Youth applications for livestock projects was a stumbling block since most of the old boreholes that were working did not have the required certificates or requisite.

Letlhakeng MP had also wanted to know if there were no other alternatives regarding this requirement, the number of Youth Livestock applications that had been rejected because of the Water Rights issue in Letlhakeng West Constituency and the number of Youth Livestock applications with Water Rights Certificates that had been approved. Ends