Committee on Human Settlements on Oversight at Marikana Housing Projects
The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Local Government and Human Settlements led by the Chairperson Hon. Motlalepula Rosho, visited the Rustenburg Local Municipality to conduct oversight at Marikana, on Friday, 03 July 2015 on the Human Settlement housing project that is in progress.
The oversight was to inspect the housing projects which were pronounced on the 2015/16 budget speech by the MEC Collen Maine of the Department of Local Government and Human Settlement to build housing units at Marikana between Brits and Rustenburg.
Marikana Housing Development which is currently under construction, consist of 292 Breaking New Ground units (BNG) and 252 Community Residential Units (CRU). The department is targeting to build a total of 2 600 units to respond to the housing needs within the community of Marikana. The land where the project is taking place was donated to the Rustenburg municipality by Lonmin Mines.
The Committee observed challenges pertaining to lack of water, sanitation, and electricity supply. Furthermore there was no finalised list of beneficiaries who are to occupy the community residential units which may result towards illegal occupation. Strikes within the mining sector as well as salary negotiations of employees employed by the construction companies on site have also hampered the progress of the project.
The committee is concerned on the lack of effective functional steering committee to drive the project and also on the role of Lonmin in communicating a joint common message of government about the project, which is meant to benefit the community of Marikana, informal settlements surrounding Marikana as well as workers of Lonmin who happen to be community members.
According to the Member of the Mayoral Committee on Housing at Rustenburg Local Municipality, Cllr Victoria Makhaula, challenges on allocation of houses is likely to be caused by threats from mine workers who are demanding that houses must be allocated to 34 bereaved families of the massacre that took place on 16 August 2012 in Marikana.
“This project is meant for the community of Marikana, which includes mine workers, but most community members have been threatened not to fill in their names as beneficiaries to occupy as most mine workers feel that the units belong to them, and nothing has been done to resolve this matter” said Cllr. Makhaula
The units were supposed to be handed over in July 2015, however the project is running behind schedule due to the said challenges. The contractors on site, Motheo and Andisa Contractors have reported to the committee that they will hand over the project by the end of October 2015. The Department of Local Government and Human Settlements have also approved an extension for contractors to complete the project on the said period.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Rosho said they expect the houses to be occupied immediately once they are handed over to the department to avoid illegal occupation and possible vandalism.
“We hope that the municipality will provide the beneficiary list which is fairly and transparently processed to benefit the rightful applicants,” Hon. Rosho said.
The committee is also concerned about the extension of the project to October 2015, on the financial implications thereof and the hidden costs that may arise.
Lack of Lonmin Mine’s management involvement in this project remains a concern as the company should be part of the agreements and social responsibility.
“We have to foster proper channels of communication that have to be strengthened to enlighten community and mine workers of all developments which concern them, otherwise there would be no confusion on who is to occupy the CRUs ” said Hon. Rosho
The Committee resolved to call on the Department of Local Government and Human Settlements, Bojanala District Municipality, Rustenburg Local Municipality, Eskom and state entities that have a role, to follow up on outstanding related issues that may create challenges on the occupation of CRU units and this discussions will further involve Lonmin mine management.
Enquiries:
Senzile Dabula
PRO – Communications Unit
Tel: 018 392 7116
Cell: 079 879 1408 / 060 966 4854
Fax: 086 697 6614
Email: senzile@nwpl.org.za
