25 Mar 2025

Lobatse Town Council (LTC) is putting a strategy in place to rehabilitate old and dilapidated buildings in order to build a new Lobatse. 

Speaking during a full council  meeting on Monday, the town Mayor, Mr Aron Ganakgomo said it was a concern that several buildings in town were in disrepair and an eyesore. 

“These structures not only pose safety hazards, they harbour criminals. They undermine the overall aesthetic and economic potential of Lobatse,” he said. 

Mayor Ganakgomo underscored that the council would start a plan to identify and get such properties rehabilitated by transforming them into functional spaces that would contribute to the urban landscape and local economy. 

This move, he said, would create economic opportunities, stimulate innovation and breathe new life into the town’s old infrastructure. 

He called upon the private sector, non-governmental organisations and community members to partner with the town council on the journey to create the new re-imagined Lobatse. 

He said other components to the plan included fast tracking Lobatse’s historic preservation and cultural heritage tourism sector to enhance the local economy. 

To this end, he said the council would continue to create an enabling business environment for the private sector to thrive in a quest to promote private sector-led economy. 

The council plans to schedule and facilitate a Business Pitso in the 2025/2026 financial year to discuss the challenges and map a way forward to stimulate the Lobatse economy. 

He said Lobatse continued to grow, and as such it was the council’s responsibility to ensure that the town was developed in a sustainable manner by ensuring that underutilised open spaces were turned into productive areas.

“To ensure that open spaces are utilised effectively, the council issued a three-month moratorium, effective March 1, 2025, to allow for the preparation of comprehensive guidelines for their effective use. These guidelines will provide the necessary framework to ensure that developments align with the town’s long-term vision and community needs,” he said. 

In an interview, Botoka councillor, Mr Oneetse Kagiso, said there had been an outcry about dilapidated properties for a long time.

“Some of these buildings are council properties, which are less maintained. We could refurbish them and bring them to good use,” he said. 

Furthermore, councillor Kagiso said the council would have to trace owners who reside outside the country and urge them to restore the buildings. 

“Those who are known could be easily traced, and a deliberate action could be taken to see how this important exercise is carried out,” he said.

This development by the council comes as an answer after the Mayor recently addressed kgotla meetings where most residents complained about the dilapidated buildings and wanted something done to improve the appearance of Lobatse. ENDS