07 Aug 2022

Consultations are ongoing to consider relocation of the physical planning unit from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs.

“The physical planning unit at councils is also tasked with executing other functions as mandated by the Local Government Act of 2012, Town and Council Planning Act of 2013, Building Control Act of 1962, Public Health Act of 2013 and Trade Act of 2019.

However, my ministry is in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on the optimal location of physical planners.

One of the considerations in our discussion is that physical planners operate under the Town and Country Planning Act of which the responsible minister is the Minister of Lands and Water Affairs,” Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr Kefentse Mzwinila told Parliament.

He said physical planning was a multi-faceted discipline that was best undertaken through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through local authorities.Molepolole North MP, Mr Oabile Regoeng had asked if the ministry would not consider relocating the physical planning unit from Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs for efficiency and enhanced service delivery. ENDs