06 Feb 2013

 Parliament has been informed that there are some cases whereby Kgalagadi Land Board allocated farms and game ranches without undertaking a feasibility study.

 Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake told Parliament that the land board however engaged the District Land Use Planning Unit to carry out an assessment and provide professional advice. “On this basis, I do not consider it necessary to take any further action,” he said.

Minister Mokalake said it was necessary to consult the communities whenever an area was identified for ranches. He pointed out that the communities of Logaganeng and Maubelo were consulted on August 2 and 13 in 2004. 

The minister said he was not able to locate the exact date when the district council was consulted.

Mr Mokalake also informed Parliament that an internal arrangement in June 2004 was made whereby his ministry appointed officers to investigate concerns raised by some members of the public on allocation of farms in the Kgalagadi District.

He noted that this was intended to assist his ministry make an informed decision on issues raised, adding that the issues have since been concluded by the Land Tribunal in September 2012.

“As a result, the report will not be availed to the house,” the Minster said.

Minister Mokalake was responding to Kgatleng East MP, Mr Isaac Mabiletsa who wanted to know whether there were any cases of farms and game ranches allocated by the Kgalagadi Land Board where feasibility study was not conducted, and if so, what action would be taken to address the matter.

He also requested for the number of times population and land use surveys were conducted as well as to how many times the neighbouring communities and Kgalagadi District Council were consulted.

He also asked whether the report of the task force commissioned in June 2007 to investigate this matter would be availed to the house. ENDS