What this means
Closing remarks on behalf of Deputy President Paul Mashatile by Deputy Minister of Human settlements, Tandi Mahambehlala, at the community engagement during the outreach visit to Phokwane Local Municipality, Northern Cape Newsroom Date Friday, 18 September 2026 - 14:00 shaunm Fri, 09/18/2026 - 23:34 Image Body Programme Director, MEC for COGHSTA, Lebogang Mothlaping; Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul; Executive Mayor of the Frances Baard District Municipality, Cllr Wende (Patrick) Marekwa; Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Jane Sithole; Deputy Minister Masondo Tentative; SALGA Provincial leadership; Northern Cape SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Otola; Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Vispol, Major General Besnaar; Acting District Commissioner Frances Baard, Brigadier Mtongana; Acting Provincial Head, Inspectorate Colonel Malgas; Station Commander, Hartswater, Lt Colonel Ntidi; Deputy Director Generals present; Community Representatives, and Community Members; Ladies and gentlemen; Good afternoon! Goeie middag! Dumelang! Let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the people of Phokwane for welcoming us into your community. Thank you for your frankness, your honesty, and your willingness to engage Government on matters that affect your daily lives. Today, we began our programme with visits to several important sites, including the Vaalharts/Taung Irrigation Scheme, the Vala Zonke Project, and the Pecan Nut Processing Plant. These visits provided us with a firsthand understanding of both the enormous potential that exists within this municipality and the challenges that continue to hold back development and service delivery. This outreach programme forms part of the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Service Delivery, chaired by Deputy President, Paul Mashatile. It is intended to ensure that Government leaders do not govern from offices in Pretoria alone, but that we come directly to communities, listen to people, assess progress on the ground, identify service delivery blockages, and coordinate speedy, practical solutions. The Deputy President, who initiated these outreach visits, had hoped to be here with you today. Unfortunately, on the advice of his medical team, he has had to temporarily scale down his public engagements. However, I want to assure you that the issues raised here today will be reported directly to him, together with the observations we have made during our engagements in the municipality. As the leader responsible for coordinating the implementation of South Africa's District Development Model (DDM), he continues to drive efforts aimed at improving local government performance and strengthening service delivery across all three spheres of Government. It is for this reason that we have come together today. Programme Director, the people of Phokwane have spoken clearly. You have raised concerns about unreliable water supply, ageing infrastructure, potholes and deteriorating roads, sewer spillages, electricity interruptions, housing backlogs, unemployment, youth development, healthcare services, land matters, and the future of your children. These concerns are legitimate, and they deserve urgent attention. Government acknowledges that the municipality continues to face significant challenges. With an unemployment rate of approximately 43%, many households remain without sustainable sources of income, particularly young people, women, and persons with disabilities. Yet, this is a municipality blessed with agricultural potential, resilient communities, and hardworking people. The challenge before us therefore is to ensure that economic opportunities benefit local communities. When we visited the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme today in particular, we saw one of the most important agricultural assets in South Africa. We also heard concerns regarding the condition of infrastructure, the need for investment, land-related matters, and the desire of local communities to participate more meaningfully in the agricultural value chain. Government understands these concerns and will immediately engage all relevant stakeholders to unlock the full economic potential of this strategic asset. To the residents of Pampierstad, we have heard your concerns regarding asbestos water pipelines, recurring pipe bursts, sewer blockages, and sanitation challenges. Access to clean water is not a privilege; it is a constitutional right. Government is already implementing projects aimed at upgrading bulk water and sanitation infrastructure, but we acknowledge that more needs to be done and that communities expect visible progress. As Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, I fully understand the frustration of families who have been waiting for housing opportunities for many years. We are aware of the housing backlog, the shortage of serviced sites, and delays associated with bulk infrastructure and land availability. We are also aware of projects that are already under
