The contentious land distribution motion was in Parliament again this Friday, in a highly charged debate brought about by a motion sponsored by South East South legislator Odirile Motlhale. In a motion, some members of Parliament thought it was unrealistic and others thought it would promote tribalism. Motlhale asked government to consider reserving a quota for locals of any Land Administrative Area when allocating advertised residential plots.The legislator contented that in areas close to major commercial centres, locals are increasingly being left out when it comes to land ownership, with people who come from other parts of the country getting land before those who live in the area.
He used Tlokweng as an example and said increasingly people from Tlokweng have no access to land in their own area, while people from other areas, who may have plots where they come from, also own plots in Tlokweng. He said in cases such as this, reserving a quota for locals would mitigate resentment felt by locals that others are taking their land, and it would ensure that people in a particular area still have land in their area. Motlhale said the quota would not just be reserved for the tribe in that area, but also people of different tribes who have made that area their home.
