By Kefiloe Kajane
Residents of Ha Sehloho in Thaba Tṧoeu, Mohale’s Hoek have erected shack dwellings after illegally occupying the land in the area.
The residents claim it has been a long wait for them to obtain proof of ownership of the sites since 2017.
This has forced them to occupy the area without possession of Form Cs. These are documents issued by the local councils as proof of ownership of the land for residential purposes.
Amidst this, allegations of bribery by the potential residents to local councilors, have been doing the rounds.
Already there are 30 newly erected shacks erected in this village.
According to the chief in the area and the local councilor, the Form C should be issued within a period of four days after approval of application.
A resident in the area, ‘Mapula Mokhasane claimed that she forked out M500 in bribery paid to the council in order to obtain the document in 2019. A piece of land was then earmarked for her but she has since not obtained the Form C as promised.
“I do not know if the money was for buying the land or a bribery. I am aware that land is not for sale under certain circumstances but I am desperate to obtain a piece of land,” she argues.
“As a community, we have tried to enquire from the chief as to when we would be given the documents, but he has denied being responsible for issuing such proofs. I have not talked to the councilor who benefitted. I fear someone might claim to be a lawful occupant of my land,” Mokhasane explained.
Another resident Sebolelo Mohale claimed she paid a stunning M3 500 to the chief but to date she has not been awarded the Form C. She has witnessed disputes arising from controversial rightful ownership of land.
She strongly fears what the future holds for her children as possible heirs to the land.
But the councilor of Nk’hunk’hu, Rankoela Rathobeli blatantly denied receiving any kickbacks in exchange for land allocation. He said those willing to be awarded the documents approving ownership should apply for them.
He warned that the problem around obtaining these documents has been persisting for years.
“Why would I take money from people when I am paid. They are just trying to drag my name through the mud due to politics that play around,” Rathobeli retorted, adding that those whose land has been surveyed have obtained their leases.
The area chief of Thaba- Tṧoeu Ha Sehloho Raphael Ntepe admitted to the sale of his agricultural land for residential. He was ignorant of the sale of land through bribery by the councilor.
“I know of many villagers who do not possess such documents. It is the council on its sitting that approves the issuance of the proofs. I do not issue the permits for land ownership but only become part of the surveying team,” Ntepe urged.
The chairman of Thaba-Mokhele Community Council ‘Molaoa ‘Molaoa has threatened a probe on the allegations. He commented that the problem, for all practical purposes, amounts to illegal occupation of land.
The chief is not authorized to allocate land, but can only do so in collaboration with the council upon request for allocation.
According to the Land Act of 2010, a person allocated land is entitled to its use for which it was sought as specified in the allocation certificate.
