Picture: North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi
By BAKANG MOKOTO
15 July 2026 – In an effort to accelerate housing delivery in the province, the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi will on 16 July 2026, unveil two housing projects worth over R62 million in THE Greater Taung and Naledi Local municipalities in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District. Molapisi will introduce the two contractors appointed to implement these projects to the councillors in both the municipalities.
He further said the Ditshilong housing project in the Greater Taung Local Municipality will deliver 216 housing units, while the Geduldspan project in the Naledi Local Municipality will deliver 40 new housing units and the completion of 69 units which were left incomplete by the previous contractor. Molapisis added that both projects, valued at R62 million are expected to be completed by the end of the 2026/2027 financial year.
Molapisi will be accompanied by the Mayor of Greater Taung Local Municipality, Itumeleng Maribe, Mayor of Naledi Local Municipality, Cllr Clifton Groep and Kgosi Tshepo Mankuroane of Batlhaping Baga Phuduhucwana in Taung.
Part A of the event will take place at Batlhaping ba ga Phuduhutswana Community Hall in Taung on 16 July 2026 at 11am, while Part B of the programme will take place at Naledi Local Municipality Council Chamber in Vryburg at 3pm.
Picture: North West MEC for COGHSTA, Oageng Molapisi
By BAKANG MOKOTO
29 June 2026 – The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi has during the presentation of his departmental budget vote at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), applauded Ratlou Local Municipality for their outstanding progress in municipal audit outcomes for the 2024/25 municipal financial year. Molapisi said Ratlou Local Municipality has registered a noteworthy improvement by moving from a disclaimer to a qualified audit opinion.
He further said the municipality successfully compiled and submitted its Annual Financial Statements (AFS) without the assistance of consultants, resulting in an estimated saving of R3 million, while simultaneously strengthening internal institutional capacity. Molapisi added that they are indeed very proud of what Ratlou Local Municipality has achieved.
“This is a clear demonstration that municipalities can produce and submit quality Annual Financial Statements without the use of consultants. We need to invest in the important skills and build internal capacity to achieve greatness. This remarkable achievement by Ratlou Local Municipality was also highlighted by the Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke when she was appearing before parliament recently.
“Maluleke praised the municipality for paying attention towards better performance, accountability and better institutional capacity. Several municipalities in the province also registered improved audit outcome demonstrating that municipalities are responding positively to the support provided by the department,” he said.
Molapisi said Moses Kotane, JB Marks, and Greater Taung Local Municipalities improved from qualified to unqualified audit opinions, joining the Bojanala Platinum District, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District and Moretele Local Municipality in the 2025/26 financial year. He said Lekwa-Teemane moved from a disclaimer to an adverse outcome and Mamusa moved from adverse to qualified opinion.
“There are concerted efforts by the department to elevate three best performing municipalities to receive clean audit. As part of its ongoing support initiatives, the department, together with the Provincial Treasury, are implementing the Clean Audit Support Programme targeting Moretele Local Municipality, Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality.
“The programme is designed to assist municipalities attain unqualified audit opinion without material findings for the 2026/27 financial year. The province also recorded a remarkable reduction in disclaimer audit opinions, from nine municipalities in 2020/21 to only one municipality in 2024/25 financial year,” said Molapisi.
He said the provincial government remains committed to ensuring that municipalities strengthen governance systems, improve financial management and account responsibly for public funds.
Picture: The North West MEC for COGHSTA, Oageng Molapisi/Supplied
By STAFF REPORTER
29 June 2026 – Several North West municipalities have shown signs of improvement following Interventions instituted to strengthen governance, restore stability and improve service delivery, with Ditsobotla Local Municipality on its way to recovery, said the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Gaoage Molapisi who was tabling the department’s 2026/27 Budget Vote before the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) to outline progress made through ongoing municipal interventions.
He further said Ditsobotla Local Municipality, which remains under a Section 139(7) intervention and administered by the National Executive, recorded an encouraging progress. Molapisi added that the intervention has eliminated duplicated mayor, speaker and municipal manager positions, improved council and committee’s functionality, enabled the adoption of the 2026/27 budget and advanced the filling of critical senior management posts.
“This includes strengthened financial stability and enhanced partnerships to improve bulk water provision, as well as securing engineering capacity to stabilise electricity supply. The provincial legislature that issued directives under Section 139(1)(a) to Kagisano-Molopo and Mamusa Local Municipalities, have yielded mixed results.
“While Kagisano-Molopo has made notable progress, particularly in strengthening administrative leadership through the recruitment of senior managers, Mamusa has not achieved satisfactory progress, prompting the government to consider further intervention measures,” he said.
Molapisi further announced that the Section 16(5) investigation into Ramotshere-Moiloa Local Municipality has been concluded, with implementation of the recommendations already underway to restore institutional stability. He said Section 106 interventions in The City of Matlosana, Madibeng, Tswaing and Kgetlengrivier Local Municipalities were instituted to investigate allegations of fraud, maladministration and malfeasance involving office bearers, officials and third parties, as reported by whistle-blowers.
“The investigations in Madibeng and Tswaing have been concluded and reports submitted to both municipalities with outcomes referred to councils. In Tswaing, the findings also necessitated referral to law enforcement agencies for further investigation. In Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality, the work has started and we have introduced the investigation team. The investigation is envisaged to be completed within the next three (3) months.
“In the City of Matlosana, investigations were concluded and recommendations tabled in council. Despite these efforts, challenges persisted and this necessitated the Provincial EXCO to strengthen and reinforce the current intervention through Section 139(5)(a)(c) of the Constitution by deploying the Provincial Executive Representative,” said Molapisi.
He said the new Terms of Reference for the Provincial Executive Representative – PER include implementation of Section 106 investigation findings. Molapisi said they reaffirm that the department is committed to act decisively against maladministration and governance failures.
Picture: The Northern Cape MEC for COGHSTA, Bentley Vass
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
21 April 2026 – The Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Bentley Vass met with the provincial, regional and local leadership of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) led by the provincial chairperson, London Solomons. Vass said the meeting requested by SAMWU was cordial and conducted with mutual respect.
He further said they discussed the ongoing challenges at the embattled Sol Plaatje Local Municipality and how these challenges may have a direct impact on the workers. Vass added that he also clarified his moral and constitutional responsibilities and his concerns about the state of the municipality.
“SAMWU noted the Section 139 (1)(a) directives issued to the municipality in March 2026. They said they do not seek to interfere with the constitutional obligations of the MEC as the Executive Authority, and any decisions I may take to stabilise the municipality.
“Section 154 of the Constitution mandates national and provincial governments to support, strengthen, and capacitate municipalities to perform their functions effectively. I will will meet with other stakeholders and community interest groups operating within the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality in the coming few days,” he said.
Picture: North West MEC for Finance, Kenetswe Mosenogi, Executive Mayor of City of Matlosana, Fikile Mahlophe, PER, Dr Moatlhodi Dilotsotlhe, North West MEC COGHSTA, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi and Speaker of Matlosana, Stella Mondlana-Ngwenya/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
4 April 2026 – As part of the revised Provincial Mandatory Financial Intervention and Support Strategy, the North West MEC for Finance, Kenetswe Mosenogi and North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Gaoage Molapisi, introduced Dr Moatlhodi Dilotsotlhe as the Provincial Executive Representative (PER) to Matlosana Local Municipality. The deployment of Dilotsotlhe is effected in terms of Section 139(5)(a) and (c) of the Constitution, read together with Sections 146 and 147 of the MFMA.
Molapisi said it follows the determination that the municipality experienced serious financial distress requiring a mandatory Financial Recovery Plan (FRP), which remains a legally binding instrument. He further said the North West Provincial Executive Council has taken this decision for several compelling reasons to restore stability, good governance, and effective service delivery to the City of Matlosana.
“The North West Provincial Government (NWPG) is sending a clear and final message to the City of Matlosana Council that this is not merely a support mechanism. It is a binding framework for corrective action to create a stable, capable, and ethical municipality that delivers services to its people.
“This strengthened intervention is consistent with the constitutional principles of cooperative governance. It allows us to scale up our support and oversight in a manner that is both necessary and proportional to the deepening institutional control collapse we are witnessing,” added Molapisi.
He said to give effect to this strengthened intervention, the approved measures such as Amendment of the Terms of Reference must be implemented with immediate effect. Molapisi said the Terms of Reference will be amended to empower the PER to impose the FRP by fully assuming the functions and powers of the accounting officer.
“COGTA and Provincial Treasury, will immediately augment the intervention team with additional capacity in the critical areas of service delivery, governance, legal and technical and financial support of the PER.
“Quarterly technical “war room” meetings will be convened to rigorously review progress on the implementation of the FRP and other identified priorities,” he said.
Molapisi said he and Mosenogi will urgently engage with the political leadership of the municipality to clearly outline the objectives, expectations and the new terms of engagement between the intervention team and the council. He said they will submit a joint report to the executive council on the progress of this intervention.
Mosenogi said: “The PER is no longer a purely advisory figure, but a strategic oversight and enforcement agent acting on behalf of EXCO to ensure that recovery commitments are honoured and delays are addressed decisively to strengthen oversight, monitoring and enforcement of the Financial Recovery Plan.
“The municipality remains fully responsible for implementing the approved, complying with all financial restrictions and recovery measures, and submitting credible monthly progress reports to my office.”
She said the PER is also not going to work alone, but will be strengthened by terms of administrative capacity and support, jointly by the Provincial Departments of CoGTA and Treasury. Mosenogi said Dilotsotlhe has in excess of eleven years’ experience in senior management, having been in the local government environment as the Technical Lead (CoGHSTA), Provincial Executive Representative, Section 139(1)(c) Administrator, acting Municipal Manager, and Strategy Execution Consultant.
“He has also occupied senior management positions such as CEO, Chief Visionary Officer (Consultant) in the private sector. So, we call upon the municipality, as well as all stakeholders—the municipal administration, labour, business, and the community—to work with the intervention,” she said.
Picture: The North West MEC for COGHSTA, Oageng Molapisi/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
19 March 2026- The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi delivered a stern warning against poor performing developers during a community meeting, where he officially introduced the three developers tasked with constructing 1075 Breaking New Ground (BNG) units in Ikageng Extension 13.
Molapisi said the project, which is valued at over R230 million and set to break ground in April 2026, promises to be a game-changer for the community, eradicating informal settlements by replacing them with secure, decent homes by December 2027.
He further said the three appointed contractors were introduced to the community. During the meeting, Molapisi announced that the department will closely monitor their performance throughout the duration of the project.
“The department will not hesitate to terminate their contracts should they fail to meet the agreed completion timelines. We advise them to enlist additional capacity where necessary to ensure that the project is completed on schedule.
“We also indicated that the department has experienced challenges in the past with contractors who abandon projects or deliver poor-quality work. In order to address this challenge, the department has resolved to implement a strict milestone-based payment system, where contractors are paid according to the work they have completed,” he added.
Molapisi said if they fail to deliver, the department will be left with no option, but to terminate the contract and appoint a new contractor to complete the job. He also urged community members to cooperate with the contractors and ward councillors to prevent any disruptions which could delay the project.
“We have appointed three developers, two of whom are women and one man. This forms part of our deliberate effort to meet the 40% target for women-owned companies in government projects.
“By appointing women developers, we not only achieve the target but we also contribute towards the empowerment of women in the construction sector,’’ said Molapisi.
He emphasised that residents of Ikageng must be prioritised for local job opportunities throughout the duration of the project. Molapisi reaffirmed the department’s commitment to prioritise vulnerable groups, including women, older persons, child-headed households, and persons with disabilities, when allocating houses to beneficiaries.
Picture: The Northern Cape MEC for COGHSTA, Bentley Vass
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
12 March 2026- The Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Bentley Vass, today convened a meeting with the Whips of political parties represented in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality Council after a special council sitting was unable to proceed due to disruptions. Vass, acting in terms of Section 154 of the Constitution which mandates that national and provincial governments support, strengthen and capacitate municipalities to manage their own affairs and perform their functions, expressed grave concern about the conduct of certain councillors, which led to the breakdown of the council meeting.
He further said the Whips presented challenges and proposed solutions to stabilise governance and the administrative leadership of the municipality. Vass added that the people of Sol Plaatje Local Municipality deserve a stable, functional and capable municipality that can deliver good quality services to our communities.
“Political differences must never come at the expense of the residents we serve. The council needs to find common ground and prioritise service delivery at both the administrative and council levels,” he said.
Picture: North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi hand over RDP houses to beneficiaries/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
11 March 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, accompanied by the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi, recently handed over six houses to rightful beneficiaries at Bokamoso and Thekwane villages in the Rustenburg Local Municipality.
Handing over the houses last Friday, Mokgosi said the gesture was not only about giving beneficiaries a roof over their heads, but also about restoring their dignity and ensuring that they have security, worth and a sense of purpose. He described this as an important aspect of living a dignified life.
“The handover came at the right time as we celebrate Human Rights, urging us to accelerate the fight against inequality and discrimination in all its forms. Government is prioritising housing developments that are fully integrated with infrastructure and social amenities.
“This approach aims to address historical spatial inequalities by ensuring that new housing developments have access to basic services and social amenities. This vision will only be realised, if all stakeholders adhere to the principles of the District Development Model (DDM),” he said.
Mokgosi further said for many years their focus has been on the number of houses built. He added that while this helped to reduce the housing backlog they are facing, they have realised that in doing so, they sometimes overlooked other basic services such as reliable water supply, sanitation and electricity.
North West MEC for COGHSTA, Oageng Molapisi, echoed the Premier’s sentiments, stressing that access to basic services remains a critical part of the government’s housing mandate.
“Our mandate as the department goes beyond simply building houses. It is about creating sustainable human settlements and improving the quality of life for residents by ensuring that they have access to basic services.
“Government now aims to ensure that new housing projects are connected to infrastructure and social amenities in order to create communities where residents can live, work and access services without being isolated,” he said.
Molapisi urged the beneficiaries to take care of their new homes, as they are investments for their future and that of their loved ones. He said this was made possible through strong coordination between local and provincial governments in an effort to create sustainable and integrated human settlements.
Irene Taunyana (79) pensioner, who had been living in a house built from precast walls, was one of the beneficiaries who received her house during the visit to Thekwane village. Taunyana, who was overjoyed, could not hide her excitement when she received her new home and sang at the top of her voice.
“This is a miracle. My life has just changed, and this generous gesture will help restore my health forever. What the government has done for me is a clear signal of how it cares about us, its citizens,” said Taunyana.
Meanwhile, out of a total of 250 housing units in Bokamoso, 161 houses have been built, while in Thekwane 43 houses have been built out of a total of 50 houses. The Department of Human Settlements has reaffirmed its commitment to providing citizens with adequate housing connected to essential services.
30 December 2025- North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi has sent his heartfelt condolences to the Booi family following the death of their child, Onalenna Booi (19). Onalenna passed away after undergoing the customary initiation at Dithakong village, in Mahikeng.
Molapisi said it is alleged that he was forcefully initiated and collapsed during the pass-out ceremony last weekend. He added that, Onalenna was certified dead at the home of the initiation principal.
“A case has been opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and no arrests have been made at this stage. We appeal for a speedy investigation to establish the cause of Onalenna’s death and to determine if all regulations as per the Customary Initiation Act of 2021 were followed.
“We send our deepest condolences to the Booi family and wish them strength during this difficult period. We also appeal to the SAPS to speedily investigate the circumstances that led to his tragic death,” he said.
Molapisi further said if the postmortem results indicate foul play, those responsible must be arrested immediately and face prosecution. He added that, where possible, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) must impose a harsher sentence so that this serves as a deterrent to those who want to contaminate our sacred cultural practices.
“The death of Onalenna brings the total number of initiates who have died during this Summer Initiation Season to three. To date, the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) has shut down seven illegal initiation schools and rescued 68 initiates.
“SAPS has effected six arrests, with all suspects charged with contravening Section 33 of the Customary Initiation Act of 2021. The pass-out of initiates began two weeks ago and will continue until all initiation schools close on 9 January 2026,” said Molapisi.
Picture: Northern Cape MEC Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Bentley Vass/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
18 December 2025- As part of the Northern Cape’s 1 Billion Rand Housing Project launched in January 2024, the Northern Cape MEC Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Bentley Vass, handed over 10 of 29 houses to some of the beneficiaries of the Concordia 29 Housing Project, in the Nama-Khoi Local Municipality, in the Namakwa District. Vass was accompanied by the Executive Mayor of the Namakwa District, Mervin Cloete, and other local councillors from the District.
He further said these houses form part of the province’s broader commitment to accelerate housing delivery and improve the living conditions of communities across the Northern Cape by providing quality, dignified, and sustainable human settlements. Vass added that they are making rapid progress despite a slow start at the initial stages of this project.
“We are intolerant of non-performing contractors, as demonstrated by the recent termination of six contractors in four districts. In the past five weeks, we have delivered a total of 100 houses to beneficiaries as we continue to speed up progress. In the next two months, we anticipate delivering 310 more houses, and for the first phase of this project to be concluded by November 2026.
“We also planted trees at the houses of the beneficiaries as part of the greening and beautification of the project sites. The department ensures that completed houses are handed over immediately to prevent vandalism and enable families to occupy their homes without delay,” he said.
Several of the other beneficiaries expressed joy and gratitude upon receiving their keys, acknowledging how these new homes would change their lives and the lives of their families.
Meanwhile, one of the happy beneficiaries, Lezaan Witbooi said: “I am over the moon that I finally received the keys to my own house from our government and that this comes just a few days before Christmas. My four dependants and I are now having a proper house that we can call home, and that provides us with security and comfort.’’
The Guardian 