26 Apr 2023

Residents of Matebeleng have raised concern that their village is experiencing a plethora of problems including being a crime haven for drug dealings, burglary and petty crime.

In a kgotla meeting addressed by area MP, Mr Mabuse Pule on Tuesday, residents complained that their village was unsafe and that they were besieged by new crime trends coming with a high number of foreign nationals that rented houses in the village.

They also sought for help regarding high usage of CAT stimulant drug that was destroying young people. Residents also complained that foreigners were  taking jobs/ businesses reserve d for Batswana such as operating tuck shops.

Other residents decried that Ramodibe settlement was long overdue to be gazetted as its population had reached the required size.

They said they were disadvantaged of fundamental services  such as water provision and healthcare services, among others.

Kgosi Bethuel Ndaba of Matebeleng, said his village had no peace as villagers had become spectators while foreigners ran the village.

“I am totally disturbed to see foreigners operating small businesses without any bye-laws being enforced,” he said.

VDC chairperson, Mr Otsile Kgafela called for land servicing, paving of internal roads and gazettement of Ramodibe settlement.

Meanwhile, MP Pule acknowledged that Ramodibe settlement issue was long discussed and that it remained a settlement until further notice. He added that settlement policy guided which areas were to be gazetted.

However, he said he was aware of the many sided facts and stories of Ramodibe, but he acknowledged their concerns.

He informed residents about paving of internal roads during the current financial year and that he was equally worried that Matebeleng was experiencing high crime rates because of proximity to the city.

Mr Pule informed residents about laws passed during the just ended budget session, among them the Electoral Act, Transfer Duty Act. The legislator told residents to  desist from selling their land, which he said was prime due to its proximity to the capital city.

On other issues he said addictive drugs were a national concern, but noted that parents should continue to caution their children against using drugs.

He advised residents to utilise the Oodi Service centre as it was part of the government broader picture of implementing the Decentralisation Policy.

Councillor for Matebeleng, Mr Modise Ncube concurred that the Ramodibe settlement issue had many sided facts including to either gazette it or incorporate it to be another ward within Matebeleng.

He said in 2017 they asked land board to stop allocations at Ramodibe and that 60 per cent allocations should be reserved for locals. He called for staffing of Oodi service centre. ENDS