01 Feb 2022

Sefhare Sub-land Board chairperson has attributed delays in land allocation to certain procedures that the board cannot overlook.

Mr Mothibi Matila was responding to concerns raised by residents during kgotla meetings addressed by Sefhare/Ramokgonami MP, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang recently.

He said land allocation delay, especially residential plots, was a nationwide concern.

The chairperson said the sub-land board did not have physical planners something that contributed to the delays.

As a result, it relied on Mahalapye Sub-district Council physical planners, who served three sub-land boards of Mahalapye, Shoshong and Sefhare.

Mr Matila also stated that the sub-land board did not demarcate plots alone, adding that the district council and other departments such as roads were involved in assessing the land to determine if it was suitable for habitation.

He, however, said they were hopeful that the cabinet sub-committee on land allocation would help land boards in speeding up the allocation process.

Mr Matila said the land board would not deliberately deny people land.

Furthermore, Mr Matila said it was imperative for residents to understand that availability of land did not mean plots could be allocated.

He further said there was a law stating that plots could only be allocated after being demarcated to ensure that there was room for future developments such as roads and electricity.

Every Motswana, who met the requirement of land board, could be allocated land anywhere in the country, he said.

“Turnaround time for land allocation for different purposes can be found in land boards and is achievable if there is availability of land and workforce,” Mr Matila said.

Kgosi Gasebalwe Seretse of Pilikwe said Sefhare Sub-land Board was not doing well in service delivery.

Kgosi Seretse said he received complaints that the land board refused to allocate land, adding that plots were last allocated more than seven years since the last allocation.

One of the residents, Mr Fobby Radipotsane, said certain percentage of land should be reserved for descendants of Pilikwe, saying previous allocation showed that most people who got allocated were not from the village.

Mr Kitso Sekokonyane raised a concern that after being allocated land, most of those allocated tended to sell the land. ENDS