Daily Archives: November 12, 2025

‘Kagisano Molopo Regional Bulk Water Scheme tender awarded fair and square’

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By REGINALD KANYANE

12 November 2025- The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality has refuted allegations that the COIDA certificate of HT Pelatona Projects (PTY) LTD that was awarded Bid No. RDM2024-008A for Kagisano Molopo Regional Bulk Water Scheme: Cluster 6 – Morokweng Contract A worth approximately R111 million was expired. The Municipal Manager of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Itumeleng Jonas said the COIDA Certificate of HT Pelatona Projects (PTY) LTD was valid at the time of appointment as verified on the system.

He further said, so it is not factually correct that HT Pelatona Projects (PTY) LTD’s COIDA certificate was expired at the time the tender was submitted. Jonas added that it is true that he requested HT Pelatona Projects (PTY) LTD to submit a valid COIDA certificate within seven days after the awarding of the tender and there is nothing unprocedural about that because it is legislated.

“It is a common cause that HT Pelatona’s COIDA certificate was valid at the time the tender was submitted. No company was disqualified for having an expired COIDA. Also, it is not true that during the briefing for the said tender, it was mentioned that no company will get more than one allocation in this cluster of projects.

“There is no such clause or line item in relation to the appointment on more than one project in the tender documents that were approved and subsequently advertised,” he said.

Jonas also refuted allegations that there were arithmetic errors calculated and companies were never notified of those errors they committed before awarding them of the tender of going to the next stage of evaluation. He said Clause 3.9 on the last line item is very clear.

“It says notify a tenderer upon written request received after the closing date of tenders of all arithmetical errors made by that particular tenderer. In this instance, there was no written request received by the municipality to necessitate the notification of arithmetical errors. No irregularity was thus committed as insinuated.

“The allegations that the acting Senior Manager refused to sign minutes of any bid committee meeting citing his unhappiness of awarding any contract to a company with expired COIDA is a foreign procedure to the tender process as minutes are only signed by the Chairperson. The Senior Manager concerned gave his dissenting views, which could not have precluded the signing of the minutes by the Chairperson,” said Jonas.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Thapelo Phokoje said a whistle blower alleged that HT Pelatona Projects (PTY) LTD, submitted an expired COIDA certificate on 31 May 2025, and Jonas issued a condition on the appointment letter to HT Pelatona Projects (PTY) LTD to submit a valid COIDA within 7 days of having received the appointment letter.

Phokoje said their role as councillors, while distinct from the executive functions, are integral to the democratic governance of the municipality. He said their responsibilities included representing community interests, ensuring that the diverse needs and concerns of our wards and communities are heard and addressed in council decisions and the integrated Development plan (IDP).

“This includes oversight and accountability. Our roles are to exercise robust oversight over the executive, the administration and municipal entities to ensure transparency, accountability, and the prudent use of public resources. We are actively participating in the creation and review of by-laws and policies that facilitate sustainable service delivery and local development.

“The current challenges facing the municipality require a united, responsive and accountable approach. We must work together and rise above political divisions and focus on our core constitutional obligation, which is to ensure sustainable, effective and efficient municipal services and promote social and economic development for all residents.

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A call to address full pit latrines and stalled bulk water supply scheme challenges in Setlagole

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Picture: The Deputy Minister of Department of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo

By BAKANG MOKOTO

12 November 2025- The Deputy Minister of Department of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo together with the executive mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Khumalo Molefe and the MMC of Infrastructure Development at Ratlou Local Municipality, Thabo Motlapele, met and deliberated on the solutions on sanitation challenges at the RDP Section of Setlagole village, near Atamelang in North West, as well as the incomplete bulk water supply scheme that has been stalled for the last ten years.

Seitlholo said South Africa observes Sanitation Month, introduced by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) from 15 October (Global Hand Washing Day) to 19 November (World Toilet Day) to break the taboo of talking about sanitation and to also raise awareness of the consequences of lack of sanitation, which includes the increase of makeshift toilets at households that do not have access to dignified sanitation and an increase to open defecation.

He further said World Toilet Day seeks to raise awareness of the 3.4 billion people living without access to safe toilets globally and to accelerate action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which is focused on water and sanitation for all, by 2030. Seitlholo added that the DWS is committed to ensure access to proper sanitation and to bring awareness on the need for appropriate, dignified, and safe sanitation.

“This is in line with the Department’s approved Water and Sanitation Norms and Standards, which stipulates that a municipality designated as a Water Services Authority (WSA) should provide basic sanitation services to all consumers or potential consumers in its jurisdictional area inclusive of people residing on private owned land as guided by the Water and Sanitation policy on privately owned land of 2023.

“The standard of basic sanitation services includes a provision of a toilet with a functional hand washing facility in the yard, which is safe and reliable, environmentally sound and easy to clean, provide privacy and protection against weather, well-ventilated and keep smells to minimum as well providing for an effective and acceptable sanitation technology,” he said.

Seitlholo said the standards also require the municipality to ensure proper waste water treatment and faecal sludge management including a safe faecal sludge emptying, transportation, treatment and the disposal or beneficial use method. He said, however, this is a different case at some of the households in Setlagole RDP Section, that are faced with the challenge of full pit latrines that have not been serviced or emptied by the municipality since the construction of the houses in 2015.

“This status quo poses a serious health risk for the community and needs an urgent intervention by all three spheres of government. We have therefore called for an audit of functional and non-functional toilets in Setlagole village to ensure that the department, jointly with Ratlou Local Municipality and Ngaka Modiri District Municipality, brings the solution to address the problem of pit latrines that are at full capacity.

“This situation not only poses a great environmental and health risk for the community, but it also causes a risk to young children and livestock that can fall into these pits that are left opened and just covered with a zinc sheet. Some of the households have resorted to build their own alternative pit toilets in their yards because the ones provided by the government are at full capacity and cannot be utilised anymore,” said Seitlholo.

He said this is quite a challenge and they are calling for both the municipalities with support from the Department of Water and Sanitation, to implement the faecal sludge management system that will ensure that the sanitation services provided to these members of the community comply with the norms and standards of provision of basic sanitation services, as dictated by the Water and Sanitation Act 108 of 1997.

Molefe has acknowledged the challenge of full pit latrines in RDP Section in Setlagole village, which was mainly caused by a lack of maintenance of the toilets by the local municipality after they were handed over ten years ago.

“Our expectation was that the local municipality will maintain the toilets when they are full, but this has not been happening. There was indeed a vacuum to service the toilets once they were full, but with the intervention of the Department of Water and Sanitation, I have issued a directive to have experts that will provide support to Ratlou Local municipality to provide services to address this challenge,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the North West, approximately 72.7% of households had access to basic sanitation with 49% of households using a waterborne sanitation system connected to waste water treatment works. There is however 51% of households that still use on-site sanitation, a system where waste is managed on the property where it’s generated, such as with pit latrines or septic tanks.

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Select Committee welcomes report on forensic investigation on PSA oxygen plant tender

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

12 November 2025 – The Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and the Minister in the Presidency said it welcomes the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s report on the forensic investigation conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) into the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant tender administered by the Independent Development Trust (IDT).

In his opening remarks, the committee Chairperson, Rikus Badenhorst said their interest in this matter is rooted in accountability, transparency and integrity of public procurement. Badenhorst said the PSA Oxygen Project, which is valued at over R800 million, was intended to deliver life-saving services, ensuring that hospitals across the country have reliable oxygen supply, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas.

“Allegations that surfaced of irregular appointments, inflated costs and non-compliance of the South Africa Health Professional Regulatory Authority’s (SAHPRA) requirements raise serious questions about governance within the IDT and the stewardship of the public funds.

“The committee said it notes the report that disciplinary and criminal processes have been initiated and that the CEO has been suspended and that the matter has been referred to the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks),” he said.

Badenhorst further said the committee appreciates the comprehensive work undertaken to uncover the facts surrounding the alleged maladministration, fraud and corruption in the management of this project, originally intended to deliver vital oxygen infrastructure to 60 hospitals across South Africa. He added that the findings highlight serious governance lapses, irregular procurement practices and failures in compliance oversight.

“I wish to commend the department and the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpheson, for acting decisively in commissioning an independent investigation once concerns emerged. The committee supports the Minister’s view that the integrity of the investigative and disciplinary processes must be protected to ensure that accountability is both fair and effective.

“It is essential that neither political pressure nor public speculation be allowed to compromise the credibility of the process now under way. The committee notes with appreciation that disciplinary proceedings have commenced, criminal referrals have been made to the Hawks, and corrective steps have been taken to strengthen supply chain management within the IDT. These are critical actions to restore public confidence in the State’s infrastructure-delivery institutions,” said Badenhorst.

He said the committee looks forward to receiving the full presentation and post-investigation implementation plan at the appropriate time, once all due processes have been completed. Badenhorst said their oversight role will remain focused on ensuring that every recommendation of the PwC report translates into meaningful reform, improved governance, and value for money in the use of public funds.

“Accountability, transparency, and professional competence are non-negotiable foundations of public service. The committee will continue to uphold these principles in its engagement with the department and all its entities,” he said.

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42 000 jobs created in North West in quest to alleviates unemployment  

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By REGINALD KANYANE

12 November 2025- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said he has noted and welcomed the recent figures of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, where unemployment in the province dropped by 2%. Mokgosi said the third quarter report on the unemployment rate in the North West by Statistics South Africa indicates that the province managed to create 42 000 jobs between July and September 2025.

He further said early this year, the province adopted the Growth and Development Strategy to drive economic recovery plans centered on infrastructure development, service delivery, investments and job creation.  Mokgosi added that while the province is not out of the woods yet, the figures are encouraging.

“These figures are indicative of an administration hard at work to address the scourge of unemployment and poverty confronting the province. I have been crisscrossing the province speaking to various enterprises to see how best we can turn the tide on high unemployment figures in the province, and I believe that our efforts are yielding desired results.

“Efforts to create jobs in the province will be given impetus by the Provincial Mining Indaba and Investment Conference planned for early next year. We recently met with the Cabinet where we tabled our efforts to lure investments and drive our economic recovery initiatives and President Cyril Ramaphosa gave us thumbs up on these ambitious efforts while offering some counselling on how we can circumvent these challenges,” he said.

Mokgosi said the province has also made some significant strides in deterring job losses in ferrochrome mines. He said all these efforts and many others will find expression through a jobs summit that is aimed at devising strategies on preserving the available jobs while creating new ones in various industries as envisioned in the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy.

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Amajimbos to face Japan in FIFA U17 men’s World Cup knockout stage 

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By OBAKENG MAJE

12 November 2025- South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jorda an has applauded Amajimbos for progressing to the round of 32 at the FIFA U17 Men’s World Cup in Doha, Qatar. The South Africans managed a win, a draw and a defeat in their three group stage matches, and the four points were enough to see them advance to the knockout stages.

Coach Vela Khumalo’s charges finished in second place behind log leaders Italy, who made it three wins out from the same number of games, including a 3-1 victory over Amajimbos.

SAFA president, Danny Jordaan said: “You can see this team can play football. Arsene Wenger said so in Morocco already after he watched them and he said this is a very good team. Even the FIFA observers at the game were very impressed and said this team can play.

“The quality of both teams – Italy and South Africa – was very high. Of course South Africa made a few mistakes and it’s suicidal if you make mistakes at this level, but I’m sure that they’ve learned through that process.”

Jordaan further said but if you look at the team, you look at the U17s of Italy you find some of those players are already playing in the upper levels and the top leagues in Italy, while in South Africa they are not giving these boys a chance at the higher levels.  He added that but he thinks that they’ve grown through this tournament and become a better team and better individuals in the team.

“This was Amajimbos’ second appearance in the FIFA U17 World Cup – the last time was in 2015 in Chile under Molefi Ntseki. This time the South Africans not only got out of the group but also won their opening match of the global tournament – a feat no South African national team has achieved.

“With the progression to the knockout phase of a FIFA World Cup, Khumalo’s youngsters emulated the 2009 Amajita squad led by Serame Letsoaka in Egypt, Desiree Ellis’ 2023 Banyana Banyana team in New Zealand and Australia, and, more recently, Raymond Mdaka’s Amajita team in Chile in last month,” said Jordaan.

He said Amajimbos’ success was planned alongside FIFA’s Wenger. Jordaan said they started in Soweto in the COSAFA tournament and when he saw them, they played very well and they lost in the final, but one could see that this is a team that once it jells, it will make an impact on the African continent.

“Subsequent to that they qualified for the AFCON in Morocco, reached the quarterfinals and qualified for the U17 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. I am very happy to see how this team has emerged and become an integrated structured unit.

“One of the persons whose brainchild this is Arsene Wenger. He had many meetings with us and they are now looking at starting at U15. In Miami, there was a workshop about this and I’m certain that by next year they will announce an U15 tournament on a global basis. The gap between European and African teams is that European teams play regular competition at junior level – and CAF did not,” he said.

Jordaan said but once Patrice Motsepe took over, he recognized that the first thing to do is to deal with school sport and he took his own money and invested in school sport and that was a kick start of the improvement of African teams in junior competitions and finally senior competition. He said Amajimbos will face Japan in the round of 32, where they have joined the likes of Portugal, Senegal, Croatia, Argentina, Belgium, Egypt, Venezuela, Switzerland, South Korea, Brazil, Zambia, the USA, Ireland, France, Canada and Austria, among others.

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