District Intergrated Land Use Plan - Ngwaketse Land Board

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1.4 It is evidently clear that the Government is sensitive to the situation and the concern is well
founded. Without doubt, the intention of Government is to address the land use problems
and issues discernible in the district. It is against this backdrop that the Government
commissioned Environmetrix Proprietary Limited to prepare an Integrated Land Use Plan
for Southern District. The Southern District Integrated Land Use Plan (SDILUP) is expected
to provide guidance on what land use activities should take place and where, in a
sustainable manner in the District.
1.2 LOCATION AND SIZE
1.2.1 The Southern District is located in the South Eastern Planning Region (SEPR) of Botswana,
between latitudes 23 and 29 degrees South of the Equator and between 23 and 29 degrees
East of Greenwich Meridian. The Plan Area is bordered to the north by Kweneng District; to
the east by South East District; to the south by the Republic of South Africa (RSA); and
Kgalagadi District to the west. (See Map 1.1). With a land mass of 26 776 km 2 it is the
sixth largest district in Botswana and the second largest in SEPR.
1.2.2 In 1981, a total of 119 653 people resided in the district. A decade later, the population
increased to 147 389 people. The 2001 Population and Housing Census revealed that a
total of 171 652 people resided in the plan area. Correspondingly, population density
increased from 4.5 person per km 2 in 1981 to 5.5 and 6.4 persons per km 2 in 1991 and
2001 respectively. It is important to note, that the District’s national share of population
declined from 12.7 percent in 1981 to 11.1 percent and 10.2 percent in 1991 and 2001
respectively. While the various districts of Gaborone, Kweneng and South East that are in
close proximity to Southern District have shown an increase in the national share of
population, the converse is the case with the Southern District. The situation is easily
attributable to the decline in the attractiveness of the District.
1.2.3 There are two major centres in the District namely: Kanye and Moshupa. Kanye is the
administrative headquarters of the district. Currently, there exist two sub-districts, namely:
Mabutsane and Good Hope in the District. However, the South Eastern Region Master
Plan (SERMP) proposes two additional sub-districts of Moshupa and Maokane.
1.3 STATUTORY AND POLICY PROVISIONS
1.3.1 The legislation that underpins the land use plan is the Tribal Land Act amended in 1993.
The amendment in the Act is designed to create a statutory framework for the preparation
and adoption of the land use plan for the District.
1.3.2 Section 17 of the Tribal Land Act as amended in 1993 provides in subsection (1) that “A
land board shall, after due consultation with the district council, determine and define land
use zoning within the tribal areas, and may from time to time make amendments thereto”.
1.3.3 Section 17(2), require the Land Board to furnish the Minister with details of all
determinations, definitions or amendments made under subsection (1). In addition, section
17(2) also provides that if the Minister is satisfied with the descriptions of the land
concerned and that the land use zoning is in accordance with section 37 in respect of which
the types of land use for which land may be zoned, he shall give notice thereof in the
gazette. Specifically, section 17(3) provides that “The land board shall not make grants of
land under this part for any land use which is in conflict with the use for which the land is
zoned”
2 REPORT OF SURVEY