09 Feb 2020

Palapye was approved as an administrative authority through a Presidential Directive of 2008 and to declare it a town, consultations must ensue with Palapye community and Central District Council so that the minister could make an informed decision.

This was said by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse in response to a question from Member of Parliament for Palapye, Mr Oneetse Ramogapi.

Mr Autlwetse told Parliament that ‘Section 8 of the Local Government Act 2012 CAP 40:01 empowers the minister to declare any place a township, subject to consultations with the District Council, dikgosi and the community of the area, where such place is situated.’

He said the resolution adopted by Central District Council to declare Palapye a town was among many presentations placed before his office by districts requesting for Sub- districts and administrative authorities to be declared fully fledged districts and townships.

The assistant minister further said in light of the envisaged decentralisation policy, which would be concluded in the coming financial year, he would make a decision on all those requests.

MP Ramogapi had asked the minister if there were any plans to declare Palapye a town following the adoption of a motion by Central District Council some 10 years ago. ENDS