Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs visits Mabeskraal Bulk Water Supply; Boitekong Trading Hub and Moubane and Bokamoso Housing Projects

The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs led by Acting Chairperson, Hon. Nathan Oliphant conducted oversight visits at Mabeskraal Bulk Water Supply; Boitekong Trading Hub and Moubane and Bokamoso Housing Projects in Moses Kotane and Rustenburg Local Municipalities.

The oversight visit is part of the oversight programme in Bojanala District aimed at strengthening oversight and public participation and promoting accountability and transparency in government. During the program, Members of the Provincial Legislature will interact with different provincial departments and Members of the Executive Council; Mayors; Accounting Officers; and members of the Municipal Public Accounts Committees. Different Portfolio Committees will conduct oversight visits to various projects in the district to check their status quo and challenges therein.

Mabeskraal to Uitkyk Bulk Water Supply
The bulk water supply project implemented by the municipality is aimed at providing a sustainable, reliable and adequate potable water supply and addressing persistent water shortages in Mabeskraal and surrounding villages including Uitkyk. It was initiated from June 2023 to June 2026 through Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) at an amount of R44,3 million (Phase 1) and R13,9 million (Phase 2) and included the construction of a 355mm bulk water pipeline and upgrade of Mabeskraal Pump Station. Although the project didn’t have key challenges, illegal mining had affected the implementation of the project in certain stages but was addressed accordingly. Hon. Oliphant said the Committee urges law enforcement agencies to safeguard strategic state infrastructure and encourages communities to report illegal mining activities to the local police.

Moubane Housing Project
The housing project was implemented by the Department of Human Settlements through Leano 87 Solution from September 2019 to March 2027 at an amount of R14,6million for 87 Breaking New Ground Houses (previously RDP) in Moubane village in Moses Kotane Local Municipality.

Boitekong Trading Hub
The project aimed at providing accommodation for local small micro medium enterprises was implemented from August 2022 and completed in January 2025 at an amount of R7 million through Municipal Infrastructure Grant where there was construction of 27 stalls, bulk space, ablution facilities, concrete paving parking space, guardhouse, clear view fence and other amenities. The municipality recruited 25 local businesses (Food, ICT, shoes and repair etc.) for leasing of the stalls and provided business development training in conjunction with the Small Enterprise Development Funding Agency. Sibanye Stillwater Mine also provided ICT equipment.

Bokamoso Housing Project
The development housing project in Bokamoso and surrounding informal settlements in Rustenburg Local Municipality involves construction of 6000 housing units through various phases by the Department of Human Settlements and Anglo Platinum mine. On one phase, Tawana Business Project was appointed on October 2023 to construct 250 housing units at an amount of R59,9 million and 98 percent complete.

The Committee visited the project where Hon. Oliphant together with Hon. Ofentse Moema and Hon. Amogelang Matuane together with the Department of Human Settlements, led by H.O.D Ms. Kgomotso Mahlobo; Rustenburg Local Municipality led by the Mayor, Cllr. Shila Mabale-Huma and Bojanala District Municipality held a meeting with the beneficiaries to receive their concerns. Amongst key challenges raised was the blocked sewer pipeline; lack of water and electricity supply in some units; slow progress by other contractors on the massive project who do not pay sub-contractors on time; inconsistent beneficiary list and old blocked housing projects. The communities also informed the Human Settlements Committee that there have been several engagements with all the spheres of government including Eskom and other entities over the years where their concerns were raised to no help.

Hon. Oliphant informed the beneficiaries that the Committee will engage government departments, local and district municipalities and entities on their issues. “We aim to escalate these matters to all levels of government as these communities’ pleas have not been addressed for many years. We will call a community meeting in 30 days where the Premier Lazarus Mokgosi, MECs and Heads of relevant departments, municipalities and entities will come to present progress reports on all the issues that were previous raised by these concerned beneficiaries. These poor people cannot continue to live in this dare situation where there are continuously sewer spillages and lack of water and electricity which is a basic human right and need,” said Hon. Oliphant.

He said the Committee is happy that ESKOM is resolving the electricity matters by installing power lines and connecting units in the community. “We also want the municipality to urgently resolve the beneficiary list,” said Hon. Oliphant.

Related Posts