29 Jul 2025

The Letlhakeng Nature Reserve, which was officially launched October last year, is currently without an operational licence.

Owned and operated by the Motlhware Community Development Trust, a local community based organisation in Letlhakeng initiated in 2002 and formally established in 2004, the nature reserve is unable to generate revenue due to a lack of an operational licence and has a bank balance of only P619.

This was revealed on Thursday, during a handover event, to the newly elected board members after the former board was removed through a motion of no confidence.

The trust’s outgoing chairperson, Mr Shadrack Maeletso stated that lack of an operational licence is the primary obstacle from earning revenue for the trust.

He added that the nature reserve must meet certain criteria before it could be granted a licence.

The trust’s newly appointed general manager, Mr Noah Batlhahune also stated that he was unable to assist the trust in becoming profitable due to the lack a licence.

He stated that the trust’s former board members did not register with the Master of the High Court, and rendered their meetings and resolutions illegitimate.

Since his arrival in April, he said he had never seen the trust’s assets register, adding that their predecessor’s operations were not transparent.

An official from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, which is part of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Mr Gabriel Gami revealed that the preservation of wildlife and nature in the reserve was in doubt, owing to the trust’s failure to maintain the nature reserve in its natural state which, something that contradicted the law. He emphasised that the wildlife within the reserve should be kept safe and secure at all times, with the fence always kept sturdy.

He complained that individuals entered the nature reserve with dogs, posing a threat to the wildlife, and also that there was littering in the reserve and illegal collection of firewood, act that were forbidden in the nature reserve.

Deputy district commissioner Mr Benjamin Lesitaokane expressed disappointment regarding the community’s lack of involvement and ownership in the management of the reserve. He urged them to be more engaged since doing so would benefit them and future generations. ENDS