Note to Editors: Please find the attached soundbite in English by Freddy Sonakile MPL.
This media statement contains extracts from the speech that was delivered in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) on behalf of the DA on the debate into the cross border properties
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West today welcomes the adoption of the report of the Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance and Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs by the Legislature, which dealt with cross provincial border properties of the erstwhile Bophuthatswana government situated in Gauteng, the Free State, and the Northern Cape.
The two-week-long fact-finding mission was necessitated by the failure to account on the immovable assets outside of the province, by the Department and its entity – the North West Housing Corporation (NWHC). The DA had previously cautioned the NWHC to not conclude any sales of the immovable assets before a proper audit of the properties was completed.
During the oversight inspections, explosive allegations were made by community members that approached the Committee, as well as lawyers who made representations. Allegations made implicated ANC bigwigs who have seemingly enriched themselves through the properties, some having been sold with no trace of the funds, former board members interfering in the process of regularizing the properties for sale and unscrupulous lawyers who were paid and failed to deal with the legal disposal of the properties.
The DA notes that MEC Lenah Miga and the Acting Head of Department (HOD) James Mashego failed to attend the entire oversight programme.
The NWHC Board was present and did not seem to have all the answers, with parts of their reporting contradictory to what we found on the ground. If what was shared to the Committee is anything to go by, then this might be one of the greatest HEISTS in government.
Following the oversight, one thing is certain – the ANC government has deserted, stolen and sold the North West legacy. Odi Stadium in Mabopane has been deserted, Morula Sun Hotel has been leased to a private company and several properties have been occupied by residents who have no title deeds.
Engagements between the North West Provincial Government and the affected provinces and municipalities seems to have stalled. The asset register provided is questionable, with two law firms who were service providers of the NWHC questioning the total number of properties listed by the entity as not a true reflection.
The DA calls for the following:
• An SIU investigation into the allegations made regarding the unlawful sale of properties belonging to the province:
• A Legislature Inquiry into the selling and asset register of the Housing Corporation;
• A public participation process that will be extended to residents of Free State, Northern Cape and Gauteng affected by this matter; and,
• A specialized audit by the Auditor-General into the assets of the Housing Corporation, coupled with an explanation as to how previous audits conducted dealt with this matter.
Now that the matter has gotten to this stage, there is simply no turning back and the DA will be monitoring how the Legislature processes the Committee report into the matter.
The State Capture Report was very clear on how Parliament and Legislatures deserted their role, we will be closely monitoring that the report does not end up gathering dust.
The residents of North West deserve to know the truth about their legacy.