18 Feb 2024

Following the re-enactment of the Tribal Land Act of 2018 and the Deeds Registry Act of 2017, there was the introduction of the Secure Land Titles (SLTs) and the process required plot holders to register their land rights with the registrar of deeds through the land board.

This was revealed by Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr Kefentse Mzwinila in Parliament on February 15. 

He said the registration and issuance of STLs was ongoing across all land boards, and that the amended Deeds Registry Act of 2017 stipulated the need to survey and register all Certificates of Registry Titles (CRTs) .

“These CRTs are registered under respective land boards prior to production of individual plots before allocation. 

A tender for survey of outside figures, a critical piece in the process of production of SLTs was issued and awarded to private surveyors to augment capacity of the ministry,” he said.

Dr Mzwinila said the expected output from the said tender were not realised, leading to land boards proceeding to carry out some of the surveys in-house. 

He said it made the process slow, hence the production of only about 9 000 and issuance of 6 681 SLTs. “Since the launch of the SLTs in June 2022, a total of 6 681 SLTs have been issued across the country and of these, 503 were issued by the Tawana Land Board. Since the commencement of LAPCAS in 2009 to date, about P787 419 934 has been spent in the reform,” he said.

Dr Mzwinila said the reform had improved land allocation and administration since it ensured that every land parcel in the country had to be registered by the deeds registry, which he said ascertained security of tenure.

He said additionally the digitalisation of land records enhanced the security of title records and provided certainty and clarity on plot ownership, thereby making it easier to ascertain who owned which particular plot. 

He also noted that it made it easier to avoid double allocations, which he said used to bedevil land boards.

The MP for Ngami, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama had wanted an update on the SLT certificates issuance following LAPCAS.

He also wanted clarity on the number of certificates that had been issued across the country since 2022, particularly for Ngami constituency. 

The MP also wanted to know the amount spent in the reform from the inception of LAPCAS in 2009 to date, and whether the reform had improved land allocation and administration in the country. ends