04 Jul 2023

Letlhakane Land Board in the Boteti District, has a total of 37 005 people who have applied and awaiting land allocation.

Briefing the district full council recently, the land board chairperson, Mr Ketshabamang Kethanyegile, acknowledged delayed land allocation in the area, saying however that it was an issue affecting the whole country.

He highlighted that the delay was due to the fact that the land allocation process involved stakeholders such as different council departments until the final stage of allocation.

Mr Kethanyegile said this year allocation at his land board stood at 10 425.

Some of the contributing factors to delayed land allocation, he said, were challenges faced in acquiring fields from individuals to be turned into and allocated as residential plots.

He also noted that it took time to acquire funds to compensate owners of the fields.

Though he did not dispute delayed land allocation could lead to illegal occupation, Mr Kethanyegile said collective efforts by both landboard authorities and community leadership was needed to sensitise people about the dangers of doing so.

The land board chairperson warned that illegal squatters usually faced stiff penalties such as demolition of property and eviction.

Letlhakane Land Board services Mokubilo, Mmea, Makgaba, Khwee, Kedia, Mokoboxane and Mopipi, among others.

Still at the council session, Mr Aron Baitsemang, councillor for Phase 1 in Letlhakane, advocated for a landfill, given the tremendous growth of the village.

He also decried the untidy state of Letlhakane village, adding that there were illegal dumping sites all over the place.

Furthermore, the councillor complained about inappropriate disposal of baby nappies in Letlhakane, calling for better ways to dispose such waste.

Mr Baitsemang also appealed for better internal roads in the village, where he suggested paving or regular grading. ENDS