Maele to evict Matlapekwe squatters
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday February 3, 2017 16:08
Answering a question from Kgosi Mosadi Seboko of Balete at Ntlo Ya Dikgosi yesterday, Maele said he would not reconsider the decision to evict them because they have illegally acquired plots and therefore the law must take its course.
He pointed out that their cases were before the Land Tribunal and a determination had already been made for 11 squatters out of the 29 who lost their cases. He said the remaining cases were at an advanced stage of the trial process and therefore he did not want to interfere with the proceedings of the Land Tribunal or undermine its authority.
Maele told the House that all farmers who had not been formally allocated arable fields either by Bogosi in the past or Malete Land Board were considered to have illegally allocated themselves the land and are entitled to apply for land legally elsewhere.
“These people have the option of applying in any area of their choice. The Land Board is prepared to expedite their applications should they submit them,” he said.
The Minister said three of them had ploughing fields at Metsimaswaana, Magotane and Mmamenwe and therefore had an option of carrying out their farming activities within their ploughing fields.
He added that six of the squatters had residential plots in Ramotswa and could relocate there. Those who own cattle were advised to find alternative grazing area when the rest were expected to follow the due process of acquiring land for their activities.
“My Ministry is not in any way curtailing or thwarting anyone’s efforts to contribute to food security. As indicated above, those squatters without arable fields can make necessary arrangements where they can keep their livestock while they follow the normal application process of acquiring land,” he said.
However, the Minister pointed out that he was aware that some of those squatters were the most vulnerable members of the society. He said there were structures in place such as social welfare office to assist and facilitate them to acquire land. Maele further dismissed allegations that all the squatters had shelter in the squatting areas indicating that some had residential plots in Ramotswa.
Moreover, Maele assured the squatters who benefit from social safety nets like Ipelegeng, LIMID and destitute programmes that they would continue to benefit from those programmes wherever they relocate.
Kgosi Seboko who wanted to know how he intended to provide for the poor resourced Matlapekwe farmers that have lived in the area for many years but were now being evicted.
He asked the Minister if he was aware that those people had nowhere to go with their small stock, poultry and cattle. She further asked him how he expected those farmers to survive as their small-scale farming activities were being curtailed and their efforts of contributing to food security were being thwarted. She added that some of those people were the most vulnerable members of the society who regarded the shelters they had as their homes and had no other place to live. Her effort to convince the Minister to reconsider his decision fell on deaf ears.