10 Nov 2013

The Hatsalatladi/Mahetwe/Lentsweletau road was handed over to the Ministry of Transport and Communications by local government in 2010.

Responding to a Parliamentary question, Minister Nonofo Molefhi said the tarring of the road was deferred by local government long before it was handed over to his ministry due to financial constraints. He further noted that the Ministry of Transport and Communications still had financial constraints and therefore was unable to upgrade the road.   

Minister Molefhi also told Parliament that residents who will be affected by the tarring of the road could continue using their properties since his ministry was not expecting to tar the road in near future. He however said no further improvements should be made to the existing properties.

“It is advisable that those affected should apply for alternative plots so as to minimise inconveniences associated with relocation in the future,” he said. He also said no review of the approved road alignment had been done. Minister Molefhi further noted that properties affected were usually assessed during design, but valuation of the properties was done just prior to construction of the road.

He said expectation was that when tarring of the road resumed, valuation of the properties will be undertaken. Kweneng East MP, Maj. Gen. Moeng Pheto had asked the minister what was expected of Hatsalatladi, Mahetwe and Lentsweletau residents whose properties were affected by the proposed Hatsalatladi-Mahetwe-Lentsweletau road.

He had also wanted to know if residents affected could proceed to now use their properties, given that the proposed road was yet to be developed. The MP further asked whether such properties could be assessed taking into consideration the current market value of the properties affected. Ends