Ministry reigns in 'Yellow Monster'

OLIVER MODISE
Staff Writer | Friday July 11, 2008 00:00

Early this year, it was reported that the dreaded 'Yellow Monster' is going back to Mogoditshane to demolish houses of squatters after an eviction order granted to the Kweneng Land Board.

However, government has refrained from effecting the order because it wants an alternative solution agreeable to both sides. Molefhi told Mmegi that he has had an opportunity to address residents of Tsolamosese and briefed them about his ministry's approach to the issue.

Tsolamosese councillor Keitirile Keitirile has claimed that residents have been kept in the dark on the true position of government on the issue. 'My parting note when I addressed a Kgotla meeting was that we are going to make an assessment,' Molefhi told Mmegi. He stated that the ministry is going to look into the identity of the squatters and probe if they are in the Land Board's waiting list for plot allocation.

He pointed out that the ministry is going to consider if the affected individuals had any plot either in Tlokweng or any other place around Gaborone. He said that the final determination will include finding out if the squatters had bought any houses from Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC).

Molefhi announced that his ministry will not effect the court order against the squatters before the report. He said that the ministry will make a final determination on the squatter issue by the end of July. 'We have advised them not to make any further developments,' he said.

He explained that government does not want to demolish houses. But something must be done about houses built on plots already allocated to others or people who grabbed large plots.

The minister stated that initially an area that was supposed to produce 2,700 plots has yielded only about 500 because of squatting by an estimated 200 people.