06 Apr 2026

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ignatius Moswaane, says Marâtswane will not be granted independent village status and will continue to operate as a ward within the larger Malwelwe Village in the Letlhakeng constituency. 

Responding to a parliamentary question recently, Mr Moswaane said according to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, Marâtswane was officially recognised as a settlement with a population of 441 inhabitants. 

The settlement, he said was approximately six kilometres from the main village of Malwelwe. Mr Moswaane explained that Marâtswane was also formally incorporated into Malwelwe as a ward through Presidential Directive CAB 1B (SP) 2013, dated 18 July, 2013. 

The assistant minister explained that according to the Revised National Settlement Policy of 2004 (paragraph 4.2.6.5), for any settlement to be recognised and gazetted as a full village, it must meet two key criteria including a minimum population of 500 people and a distance of more than 15 kilometres from the periphery of the parent or main village. 

He added that Marâtswane fell short on both counts owing to its population which was below the threshold and was only six kilometres from Malwelwe. 

He however assured Parliament that notwithstanding its current status, residents of Marâtswane ward would continue to receive essential services and infrastructure development. 

“This will be provided in line with its existing classification as a ward,” he added. 

Brigadier Domcaza Mokgwathi, MP for Letlhakeng, had asked the minister to appraise Parliament on the current status of Marâtswane in Letlhakeng with regard to the gazetting of the then settlement into a village status. ENDS