Court sends Tlokweng land case back to tribunal
Mpho Mokwape | Monday April 28, 2014 11:37
The appeal was filed by the landboard after 17 people successfully sought the intervention of the tribunal in the allocation of plots in Tlokweng through a controversial raffle. The tribunal ruled in favour of the applicants, ordering the landboard to give them audience and re-consider the allocation.
On Friday, Mothobi remanded the case saying that the land tribunal had powers to preside over it again.
He said the tribunal only made a mistake in failing to consider other elements of the case. He told the tribunal to establish that all the 17 applicants are not only Batlokwa, saying the land belongs to all Batswana regardless of their origin.
He said Batswana should know that the land is there for all to share and that all should be given a fair share to improve their livelihoods.
Mothobi said it is high time the landboard engaged tribal leaders on issues of land to avoid cases such as the one before him.
At the land tribunal, the landboard opposed the case on the grounds of jurisdiction and insufficient evidence. The Land Board said the tribunal had no powers to hear the case while the applicants have advanced insufficient grounds to get an interdict.
However, the land tribunal ruled in favour of the applicants represented by Tshiamo Rantao. Unoda Mack appeared for the landboard.