Ratholo residents petition Palapye Sub-Land Board
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday August 18, 2017 15:55
Last week Friday a delegation delivered a letter of demand, inviting the Board Secretary to their village and to review the Board’s decision.
The issue emanated from 2014 when a decision was taken in a Kgotla meeting to allow the company to establish a poultry business in their village.
The company directors had approached the village leadership to request for a piece of land to set up the business with an estimated budget of over P67,400,000 and an estimated direct employment capacity of well over 1,000 people with an annual turnover of just over P1.5 billion.
Following the approval by the community, the company applied for the land at the Palapye Sub-Land Board. However, the authorities turned down their application three years later in 2016 citing different factors.
In their response letter to Hubbard Mark Broilers dated August 16, 2016, the Sub-Land Board indicated that it has resolved to reject the application, noting among the factors that the area requested would require change of land use since it is used for communal grazing.
The Board also indicated that the area does not meet the requirements to be at least 1.17km from the last built up area which will negatively affect the village growth, that the area is only 880m from the grave yard and 478m from the soil dam.
The Board also indicated that the application was rejected on the basis that it does not meet the stipulated policy, which says that the project should at least be two kilometres away from the drift fence as opposed to the current situation whereby it is only 52.34m.
The Board further pointed out that the subject area is within the grazing area and close to a borehole owned by a certain Botshabelo Solomon.
However, the residents are unhappy with the Board’s response.
In the letter delivered to Palapye Sub-Land Board dated August 3, 2017 and sub headed, “Matshwenyego a baagi ba Ratholo” addressed to the Board Secretary, the Ratholo community clearly states their disagreement with the resolutions of the Board to deny Habbard Mark Broilers a plot and wants it reviewed.
They villagers indicated through the letter that by rejecting Habbard Mark Briolers’ application, the Board has consequently stood in the way of developments in the village.
According to Jacob Kedikilwe, who was part of the delegation, the community is concerned that they may not have this opportunity, which will transform their village and uplift livelihoods of the community.
“If these investors are not given this plot, we will miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime to transform our village. We are simply saying the reasons that the Board has stated could be discussed and an amicable solution reached,” said Kedikilwe in an interview with Mmegi.
In the letter, which bears the Village Development Committee (VDC) stamp, the community demands and invites the Sub-Land Board Secretary to address a Kgotla meeting where the issue will be discussed.
“The community has seen it fit to invite your office to Ratholo where they will engage with you in a Kgotla meeting to try and find an amicable solution to this issue. We request your office to hold the meeting before the end of August 2017,” reads the letter in part.
The community said through the letter that they have done all and followed proper procedures in accordance with the land allocation policy requirements.
When contacted for comment, authorities at Palapye Sub-Land Board could not respond, as the Board Secretary was not in the office.
However, they referred inquiries to the Ngwato Land Board. Ngwato Land Board’s public relations officer, Mompati Malete could not confirm if indeed there has been such petition saying the issue has not reached his office.
He demanded a questionnaire in order to source information from the relevant authorities.