- Admit ongoing furore over its closure could have been avoided
- They have since come up with interventions to manage the area sustainably
- Plans to reopen the spot by end of this month ongoing
- Task team appointed to come up with short term arrangements pending long ones
- Refutes allegation of foreigners’ influence over closure of Matlapana Beach & Big Tree
Authorities have acknowledged that the ongoing furore over the closure of the popular Big Tree Spot along the Thamalakane River could have been avoided had there been proactive measures to manage the area sustainably.
This as the spot was closed to the public by the police during past Independence Holidays, who immediately dispersed the multitudes of patrons who had already gathered at the area. This led to a public outrage, as this was the second spot along to be closed in this fashion after the popular Matlapana Beach.
North West District Council (NWDC) chairman, Itumeleng Kelebetseng has this week acknowledged that the authority has in the past failed to immediately come up with a proactive approach to manage the area sustainably.
Kelebetseng said from as far back as 2009, the council could not come up with swift interventions that could have long helped address the problem. This was to ensure that the public’s use for the popular recreational area is not disrupted whilst also at the same time ensuring that it is sustainably managed.
The same trouble repeated itself once again this past Independence Holidays, as on the last day (October 1st), police abruptly closed the area dispersing hundreds of people who converged there for leisure.
The council chairman has however assured that they have since changed from that gear to ensure that the issues are well addressed. He still acknowledged that they could have taken the opportunity to do so when the river was still dry.
Following the area’s closure over the weekend, the plan according to him is to ensure that by the end of this month it will be opened again. “A task team has been appointed to look into these issues and it is expected in the next two weeks to provide us with both short term and long-term solutions.”
He said the task team is made of different relevant departments, including police, NWDC, district administration, department of lands, water and sanitation department and department of environmental affairs.
Kelebetseng said though they had allowed for the area to operate during the holidays, it was unfortunate that it has to be closed on the last day because there was too much lawlessness.
He highlighted some of the offences that happened included noise pollution, drinking in public, selling liquor and food without license. Further he said though some were licenced to operate in nearby areas but they changed location to big tree.
“Police as law enforcers they had to intervene to address the situation without having to ask permission from the District Commissioner or Council,” he noted.
He said following that, they met as the district leadership and concluded that they should come up with short term solutions to ensure that the area is opened by end of month.
Some of the interventions to be made is to prune the area to ensure cars are not parked close to the river. He said the area will also be portioned and allocated to interested people for different services provisions. But Kelebetseng noted that because of the sensitivity of the river they will ensure that people use temporary structures.
That as it may, Kelebetseng said Matlapana beach is a different and complex issue as the land allocated to the community trust is too small and far from the river bank. He added that the owners of ploughing fields nearby are complaining about trespassers. “We are still trying to sort out that issue involving relevant stakeholders such as land board.”
He however assured that the area is open for public only that they are prohibited to drive their cars closer to the river.
But kelebetseng has refuted that there are some foreign nationals around the area who are influencing authorities to stop the public from accessing the area. He however noted that they do receive numerous complaints regarding noise from them but assured that their decisions are not influenced.
Meanwhile, North West District Commissioner, Thabang Waloka has also recently noted in his public address that the whole idea is not deny people access to the area but rather to ensure that they are managed and used sustainably. He highlighted that countries such as Namibia have similar areas such as beaches but are well regulated.
“We will have a short-term arrangement to ensure that the area is opened whilst still thinking for long term solutions. We have decided to assess areas along the river where people love to relax to see how we can improve them for sustainable use.”
