13 Dec 2023

Some councillors have called on North West District Council to allow Matlapana trust to take control of the operation and management of Matlapana beach to ensure close monitoring of the beach activities.

This followed reports that the activities at the beach had been currently suspended because some people in the vicinity of the beach complained of loud noise, upkeep and disturbance of some developments along the beach.

They aired the views during a meeting, noting that the trust should be the custodian of the area.

Councillor for Khwai/Mababe, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho noted that the local trust should be given ownership to operate the place for easy management and monitoring.

The trust, he said, could develop the area and ensure all basic amnesties are put in place to curb littering and ensure the area remained attractive as it is. 

He was against the decision to suspend activities at the beach saying that act had a negative impact on small entrepreneurs who were making a living out of the resource.

Cllr Kobamelo Baikgodisi of Matlapana also concurred that the trust was the rightful structure to manage the beach in a controlled and safest manner while providing maximum benefit to the wider Maun community.

He said if the trust could be granted ownership of the area, members could come up with strategies which will promote controllable and moderated recreational activities in the area.

He argued that suspending activities at the beach was not a good decision but instead the relevant authorities could have advised people who patronised the area to conduct themselves in a responsible manner.

Mr Itumeleng Kelebetseng, the council chairman, said the beach would be open for all during the festive season for recreational purposes.

Issues surrounding the beach, he said, had been a topic of discussion for a very long time which resulted in close monitoring of the beach activities.

“This made all stakeholders to meet in order to find possible solutions and they came out with resolutions for short, medium and long term strategies for the operationalisation and management of the beach,” he added.

Mr Kelebetseng urged all to make use of the area responsibly so that no disturbance were made to the neighboring developments and or people along the beach.

Mr Baphutholodi Kgari, the chairperson of Matlapana Development Trust, said in a recent interview that  the ownership of the beach has been pending for a long time but appreciated that the council heeded the Village Development Committee (VDC) request to allow the trust to operate the place and currently awaiting an official handing over of the place to the community trust.

The trust, he said, planned to develop the area and make it a destination of choice adding that they would not temper with the scenery and the natural beauty of the place because they want it to remain attractive as it is.

He also noted that they would work closely with law enforcement agencies and business operators in the locality to ensure there was order and peace adding that they were aware of some complaints of noise from some business owners. ENDS