Parliament, Wednesday, 19 August 2026 – The Free State Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) today welcomed the progress made on the hostel construction at Leboneng Special School in Welkom.
The project, which the Provincial Department of Education took over from the Department of Public Works last year following a dispute with a contractor, is currently 95% complete and houses 44 scholars. Upon completion, the hostel is expected to have two dormitory blocks, each with 98 beds, a water storage tank, a kitchen, a dining area/multi-purpose hall and a laundry. The leader of the delegation, Ms Mapule Dhlamini, said the delegation is happy with the progress. “We commend the great work done by the Department of Education since they took over this project.”
During their oversight visit to the school in 2024, the delegation recommended that a higher fence with spikes be erected due to the vulnerability of the children who occupy the hostel. Although the current fence does not have spikes, the department reported that it has made a formal request and that budget adjustments are underway to accommodate it.
The delegation also visited a newly built Thandanani Clinic in Welkom. Although complete, the clinic is currently awaiting water and electricity connections. The delegation was informed that the connection fee was paid to Eskom in July, and the connection waiting period ends in October. The clinic will then be handed over to the Department of Health and officially opened. The delegation was satisfied with the progress on the project and called on the Department of Public Works to speed up the facilitation of water and electricity connections so that the community can benefit from the basic health services expected to be rendered by the clinic.
Earlier in the day, the delegation visited the Odendaalsrus Police Station, where the contractor appointed in 2018 abandoned the construction and upgrade of the station. The project is 75% complete. Work on the project stopped in 2020 after the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Consultant withdrew due to payment delays. Non-payment of consultants led to the project stopping.
The delegation expressed disappointment that, despite its 2024 visit, the project remains dormant, with no tangible commitment from the Department of Public Works to complete it.
“We cannot have a project that is pending for so many years, and there are no answers from the responsible departments. We need them to account for this project,” said Ms Dhlamini. She committed to calling a meeting with the Minister of Public Works, together with the Minister of Police, so that they can account for the project. “We need a full report from the station commander on this project so that when we call the responsible departments, we have facts on paper,” she said.
Today’s oversight visits are part of the week-long NCOP Provincial Week programme. The programme affords permanent NCOP delegates the opportunity to conduct oversight in their respective provinces, track progress on recommendations from previous visits, and assess service delivery outcomes.
Tomorrow, the delegation will visit the Mangaung Dark/Silver City unfinished water project in Botshabelo’s U & W sections, construction of Tweespruit to Excelsior Road and the overhaul, modernisation and expansion of Park Road Police Station.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE NCOP FREE STATE PROVINCIAL WHIP, MS MAPULE DHLAMINI.
For media interviews with the Free State Provincial Whip and leader of the NCOP delegation, please contact:
Masego Dlula (Ms)
Cell: 081 715 9398
Email: mdlula@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour