05 Jun 2019

Kweneng Land Board members have expressed concern over the organisation’s internal processes which they say impede service delivery. 

Responding chairperson Mr Aron Ramerafhe’s speech on June 3, they said sub land boards failed to implement resolutions on time which resulted in clients taking legal action thereby bringing the reputation and the image of the organisation into disrepute.

One member, Mr Maoto Khudu, blamed the inefficiency on the current system of scheduled meetings.

He said the board agreed to scrap lengthy sittings of scheduled meetings to make time for attending to appeals at different sub land boards on a rotational basis. 

The system, he said, had proven to be inefficient causing other land board business such as appeals and allocations to suffer.

Mr Khudu appealed to his colleagues to introspect and review the internal processes and give feedback promptly. 

He said most of the policies were outdated and advised other members to allow clients to present fresh ideas for the betterment and development of the district.

“Let us apply our minds when clients present unique projects that advance our district,” he said.

Molepolole Sub-Land Board chairperson Mr Edison Phuthe concurred with Mr Khudu saying the board was very slow in attending to issues. 

He said the current land board policy was not compatible with current challenges. 

Mr Phuthe said it was important to amend policies from time to time.

Sub land boards, he said, were reluctant to implement main land board resolutions which had led to the general public losing faith in the whole organisation and had resorted to seeking help elsewhere. 

He said land board secretaries were overworked and as a result, acted on resolutions very late.

Mr Phuthe called for improvement of internal communication as a matter of urgency.On the issue of squatters, he complained that land board  took too long to demolish illegal structures. 

He said currently, squatters’ plots had been surveyed and some had already started to develop the illegal sites.

Responding to members’ concerns, land board attorney Mr. Alfred Baikakedi said there was general failure to implement Land Tribunal and other courts of law orders.

Mr Baikakedi said illegal land occupation was on the rise because when the main land board decided  to demolish unlawful structures, the ministry stopped the demolition exercise.

Acknowledging that members had genuine concerns, deputy board secretary Ms Sokololang Bojase said they were currently working hand in hand with the council on base maps and layout so that they could have input before the land allocation is finalised. ENDS