22 Nov 2023

Selebi Phikwe East Member of Parliament, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana has appealed to government consider upgrading Ralenyeletse, an ungazetted settlement on the outskirts of Selebi Phikwe, to a recognised settlement. 

Mr Nkawana said Ralenyeletse was believed to have existed before the establishment of Selebi Phikwe. 

In his response to State-Of-the-Nation Address on November 21, Mr Nkawana said  Ralenyeletse residents were from time to time threatened with eviction orders, even though they had no other place to call home. 

Mr Nkawana nonetheless, applauded government for buying land that was in the hands of Tati Company and wished the same could be extended to his constituency to address shortage of land. 

He said the farmers in the area did not have enough grazing land, a situation, which at times resulted in conflicts as cattle from the communal area often found their way into privately owned ranches. 

He was hopeful that the proposed plan by government to engage Tuli Block farmers to either sell their ranches or allow government to establish a corridor that would ease patrols along the border would materialise. 

On other issues of concern in his constituency, Mr Nkawana appealed to government to consider upgrading Botshabelo Police station. 

He said other than its old status, the office was also in need of maintenance. 

Mr Nkawana also appealed to government to maintain police officers houses in Botshabelo as they were infested by bats making them inhabitable and a threat to health. 

He urged government to investigate the cracking of houses in Selebi Phikwe suspected to have been a result of earth tremor emanating from the mine. 

MP Nkawana also said the manufacturing sector in town was appealing to government for support alongside efforts by various companies to resuscitate the economy of the town. 

Mr Nkawana mentioned companies manufacturing bulbs, power transformers, books and school chairs. 

He said it was important to guard against large scale businesses such as retail stores and other food chain stores which were competing with  farmers and other small businesses by growing their own vegetables and running slaughter facilities leaving locals without a market. 

However, he said the citrus farm in the area had the potential of growing small businesses in the horticultural value chain. ENDS