BDP MP, grandma in land tussle
Tefo Pheage | Friday November 25, 2016 09:45
Maphane is accusing the Boteti East legislator of trying to claim a residential plot she has been awarded since 1968, which she says is located in Letlhakane some distance away from her ploughing field that she lives on.
Maphane, who says she voted for Lelatisitswe in the last elections, has been locked in a land feud with the MP following a few months of his victory in 2014.
Maphane, whose daughter is BDP councillor Thato Modiragale, says Lelatisitswe has been eyeing her plot since he was elected to Parliament.
“He expressed a bizarre interest in my plot and went behind my back to enquire about it. He was advised to come to me as the plot belongs to me to which he did. I informed him that it is true the plot belongs to me, but he went back to Land Board and informed them that he has spoken to me and that I have given him the go-ahead to apply for the plot,” Maphane narrates.
As the residential plot she got as well as the ploughing field do not have certificates, Maphane had not yet reacted to the Land Board’s call that encouraged owners to apply for ownership papers.
Maphane says she realised that the matter was serious when she found Lelatisitswe making developments on her alleged residential plot.
“He had hired some men who told me that they were just his messengers. I immediately lodged a complaint with the Land Board authorities who told me to make it in writing. They then informed him to suspend his developments to which he declined. As I speak to you the plot has a room and electricity and some other developments,” she says.
Maphane says her daughter, Modiragale has developed cold feet in joining in her struggle as the councillor fears for her place in the party.
“I understand her predicament. Recently I took the matter to the Land Board and lost it as he is now a powerful man. The truth of the matter is that all over ploughing field residence plots do not have certificates. Why should my case be treated differently,” she says, adding that what adds salt to the wound is that she is one of those who rooted for the MP, a vote she regrets.
“I lost the case and took it to the Ngwato Land Board, which rubberstamped the Letlhakane Sub Land Board decision. I have now taken the matter to the Tribunal for further scrutiny,” she says.
Contacted for comment, the Francistown Land Tribunal confirmed that they have such a matter before the court, but said they cannot go into details.
“It is true that we have a matter in which Sethomo Lelatisitswe is a defendant in a land grabbing allegation. The complainant is Gaboitsiwe Maphane,” said Goabaone Phagenyana, an official at the Tribunal.
When contacted for a comment, Lelatisitswe informed Mmegi to proceed with the story, but later said he needs to consult with his lawyer first before saying anything on the matter.
“You can continue with the story, we will see what she has said. I still need to consult (with) my lawyer first,” he said.
Ngwato Land Board chairperson could not be of any help either as he referred Mmegi to Letlhakane Sub Land Board saying they are the ones with the fine details of the case.
The Sub Land Board chairperson, Gosalamang Oratamang said the residential plot was far away from the ploughing fields and had no certificates.
“It belonged to the Land Board, the practice today is that people should construct their residence within their ploughing fields. We ruled in favour of the member of Parliament,” he said.
He revealed that they granted the MP the land, which is about 12 hectares adding that the Lelatisitswe has even asked for extension, which they are still considering.
The applicants were initially four, but others decided to give in after losing to the Sub Land Board. Despite all their best efforts, Maphane and others have now lost the chunk of land to Lelatisitswe who reportedly has big plans for the disputed plot. However, Maphane’s next attempt to reclaim her alleged residential plot rests with the Francistown Land Tribunal.