27 Jan 2025

The public has been encouraged to use licensed real estate operators since they are bound by ethics to provide clients with relevant information when purchasing.

The Real Estate Advisory Council has a list of licensed operators on their website, Real Estate Advisory Council registrar, Ms Gabofhete Raditladi said when briefing the North West District Council full council meeting recently.

She said the council worked closely with Botswana Police Service especially in Gaborone where they had an office responsible to assist with cases related to public dealings with unlicensed operators.

Ms Raditladi said about 36 cases of unlicensed operators defrauding the public were before the courts out of which, four people had been charged so far.

Real Estate Advisory Council head of registration and compliance, Ms Jane Marapo explained that the council had powers to suspend, caution or fine licensed operators found to be unethical.

She said real estate was a lucrative investment hence was prone to vices as money laundering, which put the country at risk of being greylisted by the international money laundering watchdog.

Ms Marapo cautioned individuals who wished to sell their properties to assure that they engaged licensed operators.

Independent councillor, Mr Magonamo Mmolainyana said the public should be taught on the Real Estate Advisory Council mandate since many, especially in Ngamiland, had lost their riverside plots through dubious deals with unlicensed operators. ENDS