F/town council wants court to evict vendors
Chakalisa Dube | Monday June 27, 2022 06:00
When giving his remarks at the second ordinary full council meeting held this week, Mayor Godisang Radisigo said should everything go according to plan, the redevelopment will start in September. After several engagements, the market vendors were given a final notice to move during the first week of February but refused to budge.
This prompted the city council to approach court, Radisigo said.
“The council has commenced the eviction process and the application for eviction will be filed with the High Court before the end of the week to seek an eviction order which will be served on them (market vendors) once granted.”
Radisigo added: “The proposed development will follow immediately after eviction starting with planning, design and other studies within the next four months. The groundbreaking is expected to be in September.”
In March, the council filed a notice of its intention to evict the vendors to pave way for Amasa Civils to start the redevelopment of the market. Amasa, a 100% citizen-owned company, was in 2020 unveiled as the new developer for the council’s central market plot. The company was given a 25-year lease period to build a modern business complex. Amasa will pay the council a fee of P28,000 a month as part of the 25-year lease agreement.
One of the factors that influenced the city council to lease the market to an independent developer is that some Batswana have not been paying their monthly rentals for years. There were also suggestions that the facility be situated on prime land and could generate enough money for the cash-strapped council if leased to an independent company.
Meanwhile, during the council meeting, Radisigo said there has been notable progress concerning leasing council plots situated at the Dumela industrial plot. The intention of leasing the six plots is to assist investors with operational and production spaces as well as to revive the city’s ailing economy.
“The tender for leasing the plots closed during the first week of May and is currently on evaluation. The award and signing of the lease agreement are expected to be done in July,” Radisigo told councillors.