The Mogoditshane Sub Land Board has been on the spotlight over the controversial Compensation-In-Kind Policy. The Kweneng Land Board Chairman, Kgang Kgang, visited Mogoditshane Kgotla to discuss the Compensation-In-Kind Policy employed for land transfers in Mogoditshane. According to Kgang, in 2020 when he was first elected to the Kweneng Land Board, he was told that people were waiting for their plots after their land was taken from them. He said the main Land Board had stopped this because they suspected the Compensation-In-Kind Policy was unlawful. Kgang said they looked at the mess at Mogoditshane after hearing all those involved in the cases. They sought legal opinion from Monthe Marumo & Co. The attorneys said the Mogoditshane Sub Land Board was carrying out an order by Kweneng Land Board to look and make recommendations, made themselves a Land Board, determined compensation and allocated plots to people, which is unlawful. They said looking at what has transpired, looking at various reasons, a dialogue with stakeholders can bring a solution to make all happy as in Kgatleng where they successfully resolved the cases.
Rakgare said he was an interested party in the matter as a politician. He said it was important that he listens to issues affecting people and try to be part of the solution. “We do not give people plots but we speak on your behalf on different matters. The land issue is topical in Mogoditshane because there are a lot of people from outside Mogoditshane. But it is painful that it seems like most of those who are enjoying land rights in Mogoditshane are outsiders,” he said. Facing Kgang, Rakgare said they have long called for the resolution of the Mogoditshae land issues leading to an audit that was done. He said he was hurt by the fact that since then to this day, some ploughing fields were lawfully taken from residents by the Land Board, others were cheated from the land, others have long applied since 1993 but have not been allocated land while those who stole the land walk freely. “If I had the powers, because I know we as politicians are involved in this mess, action would be taken. We are not equal, others do not want public office, but when as a politician you seek votes to represent people and then you become part of the mess at Land Board is sad. Please help us chairman. The law should demand that we as politicians and all seeking political office, it starts with us,” he said. Rakgare said after he learnt that politicians are involved, he called for the cases to be reported. He said such leaders cannot be trusted. Meanwhile, Rakgare called on the Land Board and residents to talk through the issues. “Some innocent people bought plots from these thugs unknowingly. They did their best and did not even know that the certificates were fake and found themselves in this mess. I do not believe such people should also be disadvantaged, we should find a way to assist them,” he said. Rakgare said until land grabbers fill up prisons, there will never be an end to the matter.
