Fake land certificates plague Kweneng area
Kweneng Land Board has come out to defend its actions and set the record straight following the heavy public scrutiny and corruption allegations that it is repossessing some allocated land in the Kweneng area.
Board Chairman, Kgang Kgang said this week that the Kweneng Land Board is plagued by fake certificates and illegal occupation of plots by individuals and some churches.
Kgang revealed that issues of fake certificates are rampant in landboards around the country. In the Kweneng area, there is a problem of fake certificates in Mogoditshane, Lentsweletau, Gabane, Kumakwane and Thamaga areas.
He urged people to always confirm with land boards about land they want to buy to avoid purchasing plots with fake documents, and end up being scammed of their hard earned money.
He hopes that as they strive to allocate land adequately, cases of fraud would be reduced. Kgang is happy that the new Tribal Land Act exposes people who acquired land unethically as plots are required to be registered at the deeds registry.
He said that there is a problem with the compensation in kind in the Mogoditshane sub land board as the previous board did not follow government procedure.
When he ascended to the Chairmanship of the Kweneng Land Board Kgang said he found land set aside for a school building project in Lesirane (Tsolamosese) had been reduced as officials had given four hectares to a driving school.
He said the 28 hectares of farm land was given to one individual. This is just one example of the problems they found at the land board when he arrived.
Kgang said that the crisis they are facing with the issue of compensation in kind began before he was part of the land board. He observed that his predecessors were not following proper legal channels when doing things.
In efforts to fix the mess, the board looked at the nature of the problem that they were facing, then sought legal advice.
“There are four authorities in a District - the District Commissioner, Chieftency, Council and the Land Board.” Kgang said they met at a leadership level and it was decided that the law must be followed to the letter.
He said that over 1000 hectares of land has been recollected from the people, a move that was instigated by the legal opinion they sought. This land will be broken down to 7000 plots in the Kweneng area.
Kgang rubbished allegations that they are abusing power explaining instead that the law has oversight bodies and if he messes up he as the chairman is the one who will face the wrath of the law.
Kgang revealed that some people in the councils in the Kweneng district have taken advantage of the system and got land for themselves.
He said this is where the clash begins with some government officials to the point where they passed a motion of no confidence on him even though he exists out of their jurisdiction.
Kgang said that the law speaks of equitable land for all, yet some people have been given 10 plots and now they have sold them.
Adding to the problem at hand in which some people acquire land illegally, some lawyers also take advantage of the elderly who find themselves embroiled in land sagas by providing their service in return for a piece of land.
Kgang said this is very unethical of professionals to take advantage of people who have problems. He said that their board is following the law and is fixing the problems.
Kgang added that they operate in a transparent manner and invited the nation to give advice where they may observe shortcomings.