Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs led by Hon. Kgalalelo Makgokgowa conducted an oversight

Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs led by Hon. Kgalalelo Makgokgowa conducted an oversight visit at construction site of the 25 Mega Litre Reservoir Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant and construction site of the Light Industrial Park in Ikageng (Municipal Infrastructure Grant project) in JB Marks Local Municipality.

The oversight visit form part of the Legislature’s week long oversight programme across the district. The program is aimed at strengthening oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government. During the program, Members of the Provincial Legislature will interact with different provincial departments and their MECs; 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.

The 25 Mega Litre Reservoir Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant project
The municipality together with the Department of Water and Sanitation are currently constructing the reservoir and part of the project scope include reinforced concrete works; bulk earthworks; construction of the access road to the reservoir; storm water control; steel reinforcement; perimeter security fence and installation of sliding gate and software programming at the Ikageng West Reservoir Repeater Station and Ikageng Pumping Station. The R89,6 million project which initially commenced on 9 January 2023 was estimated to be completed on 9 July 2024 but was postponed to 30 April 2025 due to challenges concerning poor quality of the cement used on the concrete wall and it is currently at 56 percent completion rate.

Construction of The Light Industrial Park in Ikageng
The completed industrial park’s project scope included refurbishment of the existing store and modification to provide six separate automobile workshops for existing mechanics; demolishing of delapidated building; construction of the new workshops for artisans who were previously accommodated at the dilapidated building and office space and sufficient ablution facilities and external works installation. The municipal infrastructure grant approved the cost at R54, 8 million and the site was officially completed on 19 April 2024. The municipality has not officially handed the site to relevant traders as the process of identifying qualifying businesses is underway.

Hon. Makgokgowa said although there has been delays on the construction site of the reservoir and businesses have not occupied the industrial park, Committee was impressed with the progress on both construction sites. “We urge both the department and municipality to finalise process on completing the site as well as ensure that qualifying businesses are allocated spaces at the industrial park,” said Hon. Makgokgowa.