NLB takes legal route to recoup P70m debt

Koketso Kgoboge | Friday February 9, 2018 12:13

The NLB is also threatening to repossess ranches that have been undeveloped for over three years, which are also in default of lease rentals for a similar period.

About 666 ranches have been allocated in theCentral District and only 364 have been developed.

All common law plots in Mahalapye, Palapye, Serowe, and Letlhakane and in all the Sub Land Boards under NLB that are also not complying with their lease agreements will also face the wrath of the law.

Only residential land rights owners will be spared from the exercise.

NLB’s senior attorney Sesha Masara-Mabeza told a media briefing that the exercise would immediately focus on all ranches in the Central District that are failing to adhere to management plans they have submitted to the Land Board.

“The ranchers had submitted astute management plans that won them the rights to be allocated the ranches at the expense of other applicants, but they are not developing them in accordance with agreed plans,” she said.

She added, “Over and above that, they default from paying their leases despite numerous efforts and advices by the land authority concerning settlement of their dues”.

The list of all the defaulters has already been submitted to the NLB legal department to institute action at the High Court, Magistrate court and other relevant courts.

NLB chairperson, David Modisagape said that they had issued a warning in November 2017 to those who are in default of their payments to settle them, but so far only a handful has settled its arrears.

He said from the over P70 million they are owed, they had set a target to collect P30 million in the 2017/2018 financial year.

“As at January 2018, we have collected a little over P3 million.”

Modisagape said the Land Board has already identified private attorneys and deputy sheriffs who will handle the exercise of recouping monies owed to the land board.

The chairperson stated that the issue of change of contacts by land rights owners is giving the Land Board problems hence they are currently involved in the process of seeking new contacts of the land rights owners.

He said they will not bulldoze people, but will ensure that the owners are engaged about their debts before appropriate action could be taken.