Parliament, Wednesday, 19 August 2026- The North West’s permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) this week called on municipalities and provincial and national departments to coordinate and urgently address unresolved service delivery failures after finding that some communities continue to face long-standing unreliable water supply, poor sanitation and roads.
Of particular concern to the delegation were reports that some communities have been without a reliable water supply since 2015. The delegation stressed that prolonged failures in providing basic services cannot be normalised and called for credible implementation plans, clear timeframes, clearly assigned responsibilities and regular reporting on progress.
The delegation is in the province as part of the NCOP’s 2026 Provincial Week programme, which is assessing progress against commitments and recommendations arising from previous oversight visits. It met with the Office of the Premier, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and provincial government departments in Mahikeng.
While the provincial authorities reported on various interventions, the delegation remains concerned that progress is uneven and is not yet sufficiently visible in some affected communities. It identified recurring challenges involving water and wastewater infrastructure, municipal capacity, procurement delays, infrastructure maintenance and weaknesses in coordination between the different spheres of government.
Where responses remain inadequate, the delegation will refer unresolved matters to the relevant parliamentary structures for further scrutiny and follow-up.
Provincial Whip and leader of the delegation, Ms Sylvia Sithole, said oversight must result in measurable improvements in communities. “Communities cannot continue to receive revised timelines and assurances while basic services remain unreliable. What is required now are clear implementation plans, firm deadlines and accountability for commitments made to communities,” she said.
During a site visit, the delegation welcomed progress at the Tshunyane Human Settlements project, which has been stalled for more than 10 years. The provincial Department of Human Settlements told the delegation it has appointed a contractor to complete the project. The completion date has been set for the end of November. The delegation heard that construction was already underway and the foundation slab was already in place. Members, however, urged the department to closely monitor implementation to ensure the deadline is met and beneficiaries can occupy their homes.
At Mahikeng Airport, the delegation learned that the facility is not yet fully operational. Members expressed concern over the lack of visible progress and urged the relevant authorities to take the necessary steps to complete the project. The delegation noted that this will help unlock the airport’s potential to grow the local economy and create jobs.
During the site visit to the Rooigrond Wastewater treatment works, the delegation raised concerns that the project’s costs and timelines had not been finalised.
The members noted that the wastewater treatment works, if not dealt with, will cause further damage to the existing infrastructure, which will be even more expensive to treat. The delegation recalled that they had raised the issue on several occasions and insisted that the situation required immediate attention. Members requested a report on cost, key milestones, assigned institutional responsibilities, and the project's completion timeline. The Rooigrond Wastewater Treatment Works matter will also be referred to the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for close monitoring.
The delegation stressed that authorities responsible for implementation of projects must demonstrate measurable progress. They must also clearly identify obstacles that require intervention from another sphere of government. “Where communities have waited years for water, housing or critical infrastructure, further delays deepen hardship and undermine public confidence,” Ms Sithole said. “Our responsibility is to follow up on commitments and ensure that there is tangible progress on the ground.”
She said that the delegation will continue monitoring commitments made during Provincial Week and escalate unresolved matters through the appropriate parliamentary structures. It will continue its Provincial Week oversight programme tomorrow with visits to sites in Bojanala.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE NORTH WEST PROVINCIAL WHIP, MS SYLVIA SITHOLE.
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