By BAKANG MOKOTO
15 August 2025- The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi has expressed concern on various challenges which affect the living conditions of communities in the province. Molapisis said this calls for the government to intervene and implement strategies to remove these challenges.
He further said the department has completed provincial informal settlements upgrading strategy, which is aligned with the National White Paper on Human Settlements. Molapisi added that the informal settlements strategy will enable the upgrade of 219 informal settlements for full upgrading to phase three, which will enable the commencement of informal settlements upgrading projects.
“This upgrading program follows three critical phases, that is land acquisition, formalization of land rights; and phase three which is the installation of essential services (water, sewer, roads and stormwater).
“These phases are linked to the identification of the priority services in informal settlements,” he said.
Molapisi further said in the 2024/2025 financial year, the department had upgraded seven settlements in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati. He added that they have upgraded settlements in Mamusa, Amalia Ext 5, Maquassi Hills, Wolmaranstad Ext 17 and 19, Lebaleng Ext 6, Matlosana Kanana Ext 17 in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District.
“We have also upgraded informal settlements in Rustenburg, Popo Molefe and Mbeki Sun to Phase 3 in Bojanala District and managed to deliver 2504) units through the Informal Settlement Upgrading Partnership Grant.
“For the current financial year, the department has planned to deliver two thousand five hundred (2,257) service sites, at a total budget of R166 567 170 million,” said Molapisi.
He highlighted that the remaining funds will be allocated to land acquisition and formalization in priority areas. Molapisi emphasised that the department is committed in transforming informal settlements into thriving communities and to prioritise housing and to implement a long-term plan for societal changes as this would leave lasting and positive impact in the lives of the communities.
The Guardian 