05 Dec 2022

All Dikgotla that existed before independence 1966 and later, have been requested to first seek consent from Tribal Administration as a prelude to application for registration of plots with the Land Board.

Responding to a question in Parliament, the Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr Kefentse Mzwinila explained that procedurally, the Land Board registered plots for all legally recognised Dikgotla without preconditions, provided land use and physical planning requirements were met.

“It therefore follows that there is no need for a plan, if the foregoing conditions are met, as services will be provided in line with existing service standards,” he said.

He, however, said for Dikgotla that have already been recognised by the Tribal Administration, a suitable space had to be identified and agreed by all concerned parties within the area for that piece of land to qualify for registration.

He said he was aware that Tonota Sub Land Board under Ngwato Land Board had rejected registration of some Dikgotla tsa Tetlanyo on the basis of the functionality of the plots.

“For a plot to be registered the Physical Planning requirements must be met, it must not be traversed by infrastructure services like power lines, water pipes and other servitudes,” said Dr Mzwinila.

In addition he said the plots must not hinder access to others.

Dr Mzwinila pointed out that in 2016, the Tonota Sub Land Board rejected three applications for Dikgotla tsa Tetlanyo on the basis that they were affecting neighbouring plots in terms of access.

He further said on April 28, 2022 the Tonota Sub Land Board rejected another three of the 21 applications on the basis of blockage of access to the neighbouring plots adding that one of the plot was traversed by a power line.

Tonota MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi had asked the minister if he was aware that Tonota Sub Land Board continuously refuses to register most of Dikgotla tsa Tetlanyo in Tonota.

Mr Moatlhodi had wanted to know reasons and further wanted to know what plans were in place to ensure that such Dikgotla were registered given that most of them have been in existence as way back as 1966. ENDS