Cooperative Governance Committee visits Unblocked Housing Projects in Kagisano-Molopo Municipality

The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs chaired by Hon. Kgalalelo Makgokgowa conducted oversight visit at the Ganyesa, Kudunkgwane, Dipudi, Tlapeng and other unblocked RDP housing projects in Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality. The oversight visit is part of the North West Provincial Legislature oversight week program in various municipalities under Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality aimed at strengthening oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government.

The project which was blocked over a decade ago was unblocked in 2023 where Malapane Constructions was appointed to refurbish 73 incomplete RDP houses at a cost of over R50 million. Its completion date is anticipated to be 31 March 2026. “The project is part of the initial phase of unblocking about 800 unfinished RDP houses within the municipality that were left unattended during the period when the municipalities where transferred tranches to build RDP houses. The National Home Builders Registration Council together with the Council for Geotech Studies conducted structural technical assessments in these houses where several defects were found hence we appointed a service provider.

“The contractor is performing well as he’s almost done on most houses including a donation of a tribal community hall and offices and 6 houses in Dipudi village,” said the District Director at the Department of Human Settlements, Mr. Neo Mokoma.

He said some of the challenges experienced include the fact that the project is scattered across the municipality and there are no proper internal roads which makes the transportation of the material and plant access to site difficult.

“We have also been in contact with the National Department of Human Settlements and other government stakeholders to unblock other critical projects, especially at Tosca, Bray and Tseoge which has been a challenge due to bad road conditions where contractors don’t want to work there,” said Mr. Mokoma.

Hon. Makgokgowa said the Committee is impressed with the progress of the contractor on the completion of the housing projects. “The department should prioritise the blocked projects at Tosca and Bray as people have been complaining for many years without help where the main challenge is the terrible road conditions which are affecting their material and financially affecting them,” said Hon. Makgokgowa.