GCC to reclaim market stalls amidst P15m debt
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday July 9, 2025 12:35
Speaking at a media briefing last Friday at President Hotel, he revealed that the city is currently owed a staggering P15 million by individuals who had initially leased the market stalls from the council.
Even more troubling, the mayor disclosed that many of the original stall leaseholders have sublet these spaces to third parties without the council’s knowledge or consent.
This unauthorised practice, he said, is in direct violation of the council's original intent for the market stalls, to empower and economically uplift Batswana.
According to Motlaleng, GCC owns 191 market stalls. Shockingly, 91% of these are currently being operated by foreigners, despite agreements that prioritised citizens.
“As we speak, we do not hold any valid leases with the current operators,” he said.
“We will be engaging them to vacate the premises as we have plans to redevelop the area and return it to its intended purpose.”
To this end, the council has already identified an investor who is expected to help revitalise the stalls and make them more attractive and functional, he added.
Motlaleng admitted that the current state of the stalls is far from desirable, especially for a city that aspires to be a 'diamond city'.
Furthermore, he stated that once renovations are completed, the council will begin renting out the stalls again, this time at more competitive and economically sustainable rates, as part of its strategy to generate internal revenue.
He also stated that GCC holds a long-standing court order instructing the eviction of current occupants, which they now intend to enforce.
Motlaleng acknowledged shortcomings in the consultation process with current tenants, admitting that proper engagement was not initially done.
However, he assured the public that consultations have since begun, and if funding permits, alternative trading spaces might be found for some of the affected individuals.
On another issue of car washes, Motlaleng said council is against bucket car washes made by some individuals on the parking spaces, but it will find an area where they could operate proper ones.
“Clients have raised complainants and concerns regarding this model of business because if some do not want their cars or vehicles to be washed, some of those business operators end up insulting them,” he said.