Yesterday, the two sides reached an agreement that allows the residents to stay put and requires government to pay the costs of the High Court case filed to block the decision.Only 12 residents of Ranyane challenged the decision to relocate them to Bera to make way for wildlife but the agreement covers 59 other people who do not want to move. Under the agreement before Justice Lot Moroka of the Lobatse High Court, government officers are barred from entering any household or compounds occupied by any of the concerned residents without permission.
The government is prohibited from removing the engine that currently pumps water from the borehole at Ranyane without 14 days prior written notice to the residents' attorneys. The High Court ordered that the applicants and members of their families (that is spouses and minor family members) will not be removed from Ranyane less than 48 hours after the residents have informed their attorneys of their proposed removal.
