09 Sep 2019

Acting council secretary for Southern District Council, Mr Phala Radikgomo says preparations for the upcoming election were on track.

Mr Radikgomo said this in his welcome remarks during the District Development Committee meeting recently.

He noted that since President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi had issued a writ of election and election instruments, there were a lot of logistics that needed to be conducted to allow smooth and efficient electoral processes.

Mr Radikgomo therefore implored the officers to pledge vehicles to be used during the election as early as possible.

He said the council had embarked o an exercise of preparing a manual for the incoming councillors.

Mr Radikgomo shared that the manual would consist of all the duties of government departments.

For his part, District Officer for Development, Ms Nonofo Leshaga said that the wildlife hunting quota for the year 2019 had been gazetted, adding that even the quota had been approved.

She however told the meeting that the Southern District had been exempted. She indicated that September 3 to November 30, 2019 had been declared open season in all controlled areas, which include Ngamiland, Central, Kgatleng, North East, Kgaladigadi and Kweneng excluding Southern District and all controlled hunting areas under the lease by private sector or community trusts.

In addition, senior wildlife officer based in Kanye, Ms Ineeleng Collyer said hunting had been divided into two, that is for nationals while the other one focuses on the special elephant quota in the North East and Francistown areas.

Regarding hunting by citizens, she explained that a raffle would be conducted at the kgotla, where applicants would be selected through a yes or no model.

She indicated that successful applicants would need to register for their desired areas and species to hunt using the available quota, upon which they would then be issued licenses.

Ms Collyer further shared that elephant would be hunters shall be issued permits over the counter under the first come first served basis. “The purchase of elephants shall be P8 000 per elephant, while to non-citizens it will be sold at P150 000,” she said.

She therefore advised that those wishing to apply for hunting permits could submit applications at the wildlife regional offices. ENDS