12 Dec 2022

The exercise to relocate and resettle RADs squatters around boreholes and cattle posts of Spanplek, Romane, Masogwana, Kawakemo, Matlhomahibidu and Xoga has currently been halted pending identification of a permanent and reliable water source for Xhorotshaa.

The assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Mabuse Pule told Parliament that the relocation, which was done through the North West District Council, followed the declaration of Xhorotshaa within the Kareng extension area as a settlement in 2013.

Giving the background, Mr Pule said the plan to relocate people to their new home experienced delays from the onset after the project of a water source from Ghanzi District to supply water to Xhorotshaa settlement through interconnection from Qabo village borehole BH7307 did not succeed.

He explained that following failure of the Qabo project, the Ministry disbursed P500 000 in April 2017 to the council for water development at the settlement.

“However, the project experienced technical problems as the submersible pump got stuck at a depth of 130 metres and attempts to retrieve it proved futile,” he said.

He said the Department of Water Affairs was engaged to assist in citing new borehole points in February this year after a relieve borehole, which was then drilled in the proximity to a depth of 172 metres did not yield any water.

“Two water points were identified with the potential to have enough capacity to yield adequate quantities of water to meet the demands of the new settlement.

The two points were cited 18 kilometres from Xhorotshaa, within an area zoned for ranch allocation to individual boreholes owners,” he said.

Also, he said North West District Council had further engaged Tawana Land Board with a proposal to realign proposed ranch boundaries to enable access to borehol sites by allocating them.

He said since the identified water points were 18 kilometres from the built-up area of the settlement, it would require an estimated P3.6 million to facilitate water reticulation, associated pipe networks and equipping.

Mr Pule said an assessment was undertaken and a total of 25 households, accounting for 341 beneficiaries were recommended for relocation to Xhorotshaa together with their livestock comprising 406 cattle and 159 goats.

“A total of 28 housing units were also constructed at Xhorotshaa under the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) and are ready for occupation,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Ngami Mr Carterpillar Hikuama had wanted to know the progress made so far on the establishment of the Xhorotshaa rural area settlement in the North West District and challenges that delayed the relocation plan. ENDS