Palapye residents cry over undeveloped plots
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday April 18, 2023 06:00
Speaking to The Monitor on Friday, Motsokono said this is because the area is bushy as a result of some undeveloped plots.
According to Motsokono, thieves are taking advantage of the bush to attack residents in their homes or when they are coming from the shopping areas because currently there is no public transport going into the neighbourhood due to bad internal roads. “Mma sekgwa se, sa di plot tse di sa tlhabololwang ga se tshidise batho sentle. Magodu a iphitlha ka sekgwa sa teng.
As residents, we are trying our best to join hands to fight crime with the help of the police but at times we do fail,” said the worried Kgosi Motsokono. He said the reason why most of the plots are still undeveloped, is that some owners come from different parts of the country that are far from Palapye and surrounding areas. Motsokono said they are pleading with the owners of such plots to at least communicate with their neighbours or help residents with ways that could be used to clear the bush or make tree felling in their plots possible.
In addition, he said they have realised that some thieves have occupied unfinished houses in the area and stashed stolen goods there. He said the neighbourhood watch committee together with some police officers have discovered some of the stolen property belonging to residents in some of the incomplete houses. Kgosi Motsokono said as residents of that area, they have requested the District Council to at least pave internal roads in order for residents to access their homes easily and timeously, to avoid being attacked while they are from work or the shops.
He said recently the local council responded to their request and assured them that the internal roads in their area have been budgeted for. He also highlighted a sewerage line is important in their area and they hope it is something the council will consider.
Still on the matter, Member of Parliament for Palapye, Onneetse Ramogapi said: “It is true, crime is high in that area. We had written a letter to Central District Council before Palapye became a full council about the matter. We got a response recently that some internal roads will be attended to. Again the thieves also do steal building materials for some residents who want to develop their plots.
Police have assured us that they will help residents through patrols.” He said the challenge there is that the council and the neighbourhood watch committee do not have the power to cut trees in someone’s plot. Ramogapi said they had asked the council to de-bush their open spaces and attend to government's undeveloped plots.