12 Feb 2025

From the surface, Motlhabaneng, Lentswelemoriti and Mathathane (MOLEMA) Community Trust is characterised by inaction, but beneath the inaction there is so much brewing.

Trouble was birthed when the community trust sought a joint venture partner to run the 39 Winteroord otherwise MOLEMA farm that houses MOLEMA Bush Camp on the banks of Limpopo River in Tuli wilderness.

Reports are that the old board, before their term expired in July 2022, had advertised the tender and nine potential partners expressed intentions.

However, only five were shortlisted and subsequently invited to interviews April 20, 2022, which never happened because the board, twice failed to constitute a quorum, with the same members missing the first and second attempts.

The crux of the matter is that while the board was busy attempting to find a partner, the technical advisory committee (TAC) then learnt from kgosi of Mathathane, the board chairperson and secretary in May 19, 2022, of the engagement of the joint venture partner, Terra Conservancy Operations.

To the utter shock of TAC, the committee also learnt from the board of trustees that the tendering processes were pure formality and that the partner was ready to occupy the farm in question, according to the minutes of the meeting between board, dikgosi and the TAC.

Following the revelations, TAC then advised the board to address allegations of the said identified joint venture partner, appointment of whom had offended and flouted tendering processes.
The board then reportedly claimed they did not have a partner as initially reported.

Members allegedly reported that the partner was imposed upon them by village leaders. However, activities by the partner gained traction at the bush camp  despite claims of ignorance by the board, according to TAC minutes.

At some point letters were exchanged between the district commissioner’s office and the MOLEMA board through their legal representative Monthe Marumo & Co.

The then district commissioner had instructed, September 6, 2022, that the board suspend activities at the bush camp, but a response from the board legal representatives found the letter ‘of no legal force and effect’ and therefore advised their client to continue executing their mandate in terms of deed of trust.

 In the process a letter that sought to interdict some members of the TAC was delivered to them on March 23, 2023 to bar them from amongst other things, dealing with and/or convening meetings/gatherings to discuss MOLEMA community trust and/or its business and/or any of its ventures without the authority and/or permission of trustees.

Further, the officers in question were also warned that their involvement in the tender processes of MOLEMA community trust post the award of the said tender to Terra Conservancy Operations constituted an abuse of their respective offices and their capacities as government officials and indeed an act of harassment to MOLEMA trust and/or Terra Conservancy.

Now, the said officers have since ceased their advisory role for the trust and consequently, the trust is reportedly suffering from their withdrawals. Some members of the trust reportedly were turned down and felt hard done while trying to discuss the trust matters with the cited officers who then reminded them of the interdict.

The burning issue is for the beneficiaries of the trust, being village development committees to access the trust funds held in a holding account.

Over and above the alleged flouting of tendering processes, there existed allegations of misappropriation of trust’s funds, which was confirmed by an audit report carried out by the auditors from the then Bobirwa Subordinate Council.

The report showed that over P155 000 went unaccounted for. No one has been made to account over the unaccounted  funds. Again, the board is accused of failure to hold annual general meetings ever since assuming their roles in July 2022.

Their three-year term elapses in July this year. As a result, it is the community that reports the suffering at the trust’s lack of activity.

Speaking during a recent kgotla meeting by minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Tiroyaone Ntsima and minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salake, some community members wanted government, especially minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi to intervene.

Minister Mohwasa promised to deliver the plea to minister Mmolotsi for the sought intervention.

Mr Mmolotsi is expected to help foster a long lasting solution to the internal wrangling that has blurred the lines of roles between and among role players in the board and the community, help end the impasse that is slowly drawing a wedge between the board and interested parties inter alia.

Minister Mohwasa found that the community trust seemed to be marred by problems in most instances and said that there needed to be some interventions. The minister was responding to some Mathathane leaders who sought interventions regarding their trust.

Kgosi Samuel Makola said that the trust was on its knees. He said that its coffers were dry and there were seemingly no activities to generate some income.

VDC chairperson, Mr Solomon Mafela alleged that ever since its formation, the trust had effected some insignificant changes to the three villages. He accused the trust of failure to pay office rental while also having accrued over P12 000 in unpaid water bill.

He suggested that the P500 000 at the holding account should be disbursed to VDCs of the three villages to help foster developments.

While on the other hand, one board member, Ms Tshenolo Tshebedi pleaded that the board be accorded an ear to share their side of the story when the minister finally lands in their shores.

“You will hear a lot from the board if you could lend us an ear,” she said.

She conceded that her board has failed to serve their people saying the current board came into the office to face legal battles. She said that it was disheartening that people fought among themselves when they could be charting ways to fulfil their mandate.

Ms Tshebedi accused some officers at the district commissioner’s office for shooing them away when they sought their assistance.

She confirmed that the TAC was once forced to abort a meeting to discuss MOLEMA issues because the former could only call a meeting through MOLEMA board. ENDS