Residents of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality participating in the National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) Taking Parliament to the People (TPTTP) public hearings on human settlements had many concerns about housing delivery, unsafe living conditions and deteriorating municipal services affecting communities across the district.
Community members from areas including Stilfontein, Kanana, Jakaranda, Sunnyside informal settlement, Tegane, Ventersdorp and JB Marks Local Municipality described ongoing challenges relating to incomplete housing projects, lack of basic services, unsafe infrastructure, overcrowding and delays in housing allocation and title deed processes.
Ms Irene Matetwane from Ward 30 in Stilfontein was worried about the safety of the N12 national road, where a sinkhole continues to pose a danger to nearby residents. She said previous projects relating to the sinkhole had been closed without resolving the problem. Ms Matetwane also questioned why residents from Stockerville had not yet been relocated to land allegedly purchased for that purpose under a former MEC.
Speaking on behalf of residents in Jakaranda, Ward 15, Mr George Mfani said elderly people and those with disabilities continue to live without adequate housing, water and sanitation, despite reports indicating progress in the area. He referred to residents living in shacks, relying on water tankers and elderly residents using their South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants to purchase water. He also highlighted the plight of a 104-year-old resident who lives in a shack.
Residents from Sunnyside informal settlement in Klerksdorp, Ward 7, raised the issue of unsafe living conditions, after studies reportedly found that the settlement was located on wetland. Community representatives said relocation efforts were left incomplete after a contractor allegedly abandoned the project, leaving some residents behind. Concerns were also raised about unsafe access routes, deaths linked to dangerous crossings, reliance on JoJo tanks and communal taps, and the need for safer energy alternatives to paraffin.
In Kanana, Ward 6, Mr Simon Ndlowana expressed frustration over what he described as decades of unfulfilled promises since 1996. He referred to poor environmental conditions, overgrown open spaces and railway-line areas that have contributed to crime and safety risks in the community. He questioned why funding continues to be allocated while housing projects and roads remain unfinished.
Residents from JB Marks Local Municipality also mentioned overcrowding, inadequate town planning and the impact of dolomitic land on housing development. Community member Mr Mpulele Tsumo further questioned why municipal farms appear to be unused while residents continue to face housing shortages.
An unnamed speaker from Kanana, Ward 27, Extension 11, said many residents had built their own houses on stands allocated by a municipal official identified as “Mr Zwane”, only to later discover that their names did not appear on approved building plans. The speaker said residents were informed that title deeds would only be issued from Mahikeng and estimated that about 800 people could be affected.
Additional concerns raised during the hearings included allegations of poor contractor performance, lack of consequence management and inadequate education for housing consumers.
Residents from Hartebeesfontein, Ward 2, highlighted overcrowding in mud houses, while a military veteran from Tegane reported that a recently allocated house developed cracks within three months and lacked basic finishing. The resident further alleged that assistance was refused after signing a “happy letter”.
Responding to the concerns raised, the Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Thembi Simelane, said there are various ways in which Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and Breaking New Ground (BNG) houses may end up being occupied by foreign nationals, including through arrangements with lawful owners or through properties being sold or rented out. She explained that the government is able to reclaim abandoned houses for reallocation where beneficiaries no longer occupy them.
The Minister further announced that the national Department of Human Settlements is developing an online beneficiary registration and tracking system, expected to be operational by October 2026. The system will allow beneficiaries to track the status and location of their housing applications and projects, while also improving oversight and planning.
Ms Simelane said the programme would assist government in prioritising vulnerable groups, particularly elderly residents who registered between 1998 and 2007, with the aim of addressing longstanding housing backlogs. She explained that municipalities remain responsible for registering beneficiaries, while the department appoints planners and manages implementation processes.
North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Mr Oageng Molapisi, emphasised that housing allocations are based on municipal beneficiary lists and that only South African citizens qualify for allocation. He encouraged residents with information relating to alleged irregular allocations to report such cases to the provincial department.
Mr Molapisi confirmed that he had recently visited Jakaranda together with the Minister and the Ad Hoc Committee and reiterated the importance of prioritising vulnerable groups, including elderly persons, people living with disabilities and child-headed households.
Addressing concerns about contractor failures, the MEC acknowledged ongoing challenges with contractors in several projects, noting that some contractors had not been on site since August 2025. He said decisions would need to be taken regarding the continuation of those projects.
On housing challenges in JB Marks Local Municipality, Mr Molapisi said housing development in certain areas had been delayed due to dolomitic conditions and related technical challenges. He added that studies have already been conducted and that housing projects continue in areas not affected by dolomite. He further stated that three contractors are expected to build 300 houses in Ventersdorp.
The MEC also acknowledged problems relating to unfinished houses in Kanana and discrepancies where residents claim houses were built despite the system reflecting otherwise. He said the provincial department had undertaken to prioritise affected residents and address the system-related challenges.
Regarding earthquake-damaged houses in Kanana and Khuma, Mr Molapisi said refurbishment processes are ongoing, although some houses remain outstanding. He further noted concerns relating to RDP houses allegedly occupied by foreign nationals in Ward 32, stating that some former mineworkers had returned to their original homes while renting out their subsidised houses. He said the matter requires further engagement at municipal level.
Malentsoe Magwagwa
13 May 2026
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