Shock as Mmatseta Kgotla occupies land illegally
Kweneng Land board chairperson Kgang Kgang has informed residents of Mmatseta village, located some 30km away from Gaborone, that their village Kgotla has no plot certificate, suggesting that the Kgotla is illegally occupying the land.
The announcement by Kgang during a public meeting at the village kgotla not long ago has caused shock among residents who cannot understand how an entity such as Kgotla can be counted among those stealing land.
And given that Kgang and team have been busy razing down squatters in the Kweneng District, does his revelation suggest that the yellow monster will soon invade Mmatseta with the intention of demolishing their Kgotla?
Kgosi Robert Sebego of Mmatseta is dumbfounded.
“I am shocked at what he said, as far as I know, we acquired this land legally in 2015. I am in possession of the lease that was signed at that time. I am not in possession of the certificate because his employees sent us back and forth without proper answers on why we are not getting the certificate.
“Today we are being counted among those who stole the land. I am not happy with him. I wonder why he had to make that announcement without talking to me first as the leader of this village. What he has done now is cause panic amongst my people,” Kgosi Sebego said.
He added that when land board asked to hold a meeting at the Kgotla, he had thought they were coming to talk about land allocation and other land related issues. Not to create doubt in the minds of his people.
“I would have appreciated it if he came to me first and I explain to him what I know. Together we would have resolved the matter without causing public panic,” he said.
Sebego Sebego, who is deputy to Robert, was equally disappointed in Kgang.
“I do not know the man; I only know that he is famous for demolishing homes of squatters in Mogoditshane as it was reported in the news. Physically I have never met him, that is why I am not really sure why he is bringing chaos to our village,” he said.
There is a plan to meet Kgang so that the matter is discussed away from public eye and ear.
The Sebegos explained how the land they are sitting on was acquired from a villager.
“This was initially a farm, the village leadership then wrote to the Land board and Council requesting for the land. The owner was compensated and we entered an agreement with the Land board as per the lease in our possession,” they
explained.
They add that the land was developed using government funds and therefore would be a great shame if the kgotla gets demolished by the same government.
Contacted for comment, Kgang did not deny announcing to the villagers that their Kgotla has no certificate.
“It is too early to say they will be evicted. We are yet to discuss the issue. I only acted on the information that was before me, if there is anything to prove that they are not on the land illegally, we will look into it. They have not come to me yet,” Kgang said this week.