Gov't dragged to court over new Land Act
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday May 30, 2022 09:21
Addressing a press briefing on Ascension Day, Sesinyi bemoaned that Land Boards are not ready to implement the land act and this he says is disadvantaging Batswana hence they intend to approach courts over delays in processes at Land Boards.
“This new Tribal Land Act, we had hoped we could give government time to explain to Batswana and other stakeholders about the new act. We need to know how our livelihoods would be affected. A press conference to explain the same was postponed. We cannot sit back hence we come forward to ask questions,” he said, adding that they identified two matters from the Act which he said were consequential.
“All grantees allocated by dikgosi before the establishment of Land Boards are required to apply for registration of lease or titled deed. It is important to explain this. Everybody with tribal land rights must apply to the Land Boards. Banks have some of these as bonds. “Before the act, we spent a lot of money on LAPCAS (Land Administration Procedures Capacity and Systems), which required us to do exactly the exercise we are expected to do. LAPCAS should have done that as we have already spent the money. They should not just sit back. They should account for LAPCAS,” he said.
Sesinyi said public servants involved in the whole process are confused and were not ready for it. It has been a month now without any Land Board issuing any certificate. They are not giving out any leases or anything for sub divisions or consolidation and the banks are having many transactions in limbo. “The economy is losing a lot of money through this.” He said the government was not ready to have the Act operationalised. He slammed the lands and water affairs ministry for not being able to apply themselves accordingly.
He said people with deep knowledge of land issues should head the ministry. Sesinyi added they are open to working with government surveyors for the betterment of the country. He, however, said their efforts are thwarted as government continues to disregard them. Speaking on behalf of Land Boards, Kgatleng Land Board chairperson, Kgang Kgang dismissed Sesinyi’s claims.
“I do not understand where he got all those things. Land Boards continue to serve people accordingly. For those who need to register with deeds, we provide them with consent and they go to deeds registry for their secure deeds,” he said.
Kgang further said they have been engaging with stakeholders including banks and lawyers on the implications of the new Act. He further said they would be engaging with communities to familiarise them with the Act. He further said the minister would brief the media to break down the Act.