01 Jun 2022

All persons entering Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) are to present a permit that allows them to be in the reserve.

Principal wildlife officer at the game reserve, Ms Siphomolo Masabase explained to residents of CKGR settlements that the rule applied to all except beneficiaries of 2006 judgement of the Roy Sesana and others versus the Attorney General case.

She said in accordance with the said judgment there was a list of all those allowed to stay in the reserve and that such people were not required to obtain permits.

The explanation followed concerned by some residents during meetings addressed by Ghanzi District Council leadership at Molapo, Gope, Metsiamanong, Mothomelo  and Gugamma  settlements.

The residents maintained that they were legitimate residents of  the reserve.

 They said that of recent they were told that they were not on the list of people allowed to stay in CKGR. 

Ms Keipone Tshotlego  of  Gugamma settlement said they were required permits  to enter CKGR through Xade gate despite that they were born and raised in the reserve and had been staying in reserve to date.

She lamented that wildlife officers at the gate threatened that they would engage the police when the residents tried to explain that they were residents of the reserve.   

Ms Kuoma Mothoiwa at Mothomelo narrated that even social safety nets beneficiaries living in CKGR faced the same challenge of being required to obtain permits to enter the reserve.

She stated that recently just because of issue of permits they were kept at Xade gate on their way back from Ghanzi where they travelled with council officials to access social safety nets benefits.

“The issue of permits could have been triggered by case of Lesiame Pitseng (Verses Attorney General) who seeks to bury his father at Metsiamanong settlement in CKGR,” said  Botshwanetse Lesupi at Molapo settlement.

Liaison officer between CKGR residents and government through Ghanzi district council, Mr   Roy Sesana said that like any other community member, CKGR inhabitants should enter the reserve freely and their siblings should not be required to acquire permits when they visited them.

Meanwhile Charleshill deputy district commissioner, Mr William Keareng promised to meet concerned district leadership to interrogate the permit issue and if there was need they would update the list of people allowed to stay in the reserve. ENDS