North West NCOP delegates raise alarm over decade-long retention of unused mayoral house

North West permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have criticised the Moses Kotane Local Municipality for keeping an unoccupied mayoral house for more than 10 years, despite the building’s deteriorating state and ongoing maintenance costs.

The delegation, led by Provincial Whip and head of delegation Sylvia Sithole, visited the municipality this week as part of the NCOP’s Provincial Week programme, which focuses on oversight of service delivery, infrastructure and governance across municipalities.

Sithole said it was “shocking” that the municipality continued to hold onto a depreciating asset that had not been used for a decade while spending money on security, electricity and other upkeep. The house, purchased between 2002 and 2004 for R4 million, is now valued at R1.35 million. It has major roof and plumbing defects, and repairs are estimated to cost more than R2 million, equivalent to the municipality’s entire annual infrastructure maintenance budget.

“The continued retention of this house is a financial burden on the municipality. It adds no value to residents and there is no indication it will become functional again,” Sithole said. She added that the municipality’s failure to provide a detailed report on the matter undermined accountability and oversight.

During the oversight visit, the delegation also inspected the Mapuleng Clinic. While its prefabricated structure was accepted as a temporary measure, delegates warned that its long-term use was unsustainable. Sithole said the quality of healthcare facilities was critical as the country moves towards implementing the National Health Insurance (NHI).

Residents also reported ambulance delays of up to three hours, attributed largely to poor road conditions. “We call on the Department of Health to prioritise building a proper healthcare facility for this community,” she said.

At Rapurele Secondary School in Welgeval, Mogwase, the delegation raised concerns about rising social challenges, including bullying and teenage pregnancy. Last year, 21 pupils at the school were reported pregnant. Sithole said these issues reflected broader community problems requiring cooperation between parents, schools, communities and government.

Delegates also criticised the continued use of pit latrines at the school, despite a March 2025 deadline under the Sanitation Appropriate for Education Initiative. The North West Department of Education said it planned to eradicate the pit toilets by December 2025.

Overcrowding was another issue flagged during the visit, with teacher-to-learner ratios in lower grades reaching 1:76. The Department of Education has committed to providing mobile classrooms by early 2026, but delegates emphasised the need for more urgent action.

The NCOP’s North West delegation will continue its oversight on Friday.