Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbite in English by Freddy Sonakile MPL.
The DA calls on MEC Lizzy Mokua and the North West Department of Public Works to urgently implement ‘Operation Bring Back’ in the province. This national initiative, led by the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), aims to reclaim government properties that have been illegally occupied or misappropriated and return them to proper government use.
The DA has submitted a parliamentary question requesting a comprehensive report on the number of government buildings in the North West that have been hijacked, their locations, and plans to regain control. Once we receive this information, we must immediately execute ‘Operation Bring Back’ without any delay or negotiation.
We have credible reports indicating that in Mahikeng, the provincial capital, several government buildings have been hijacked, some by foreign nationals, and converted into crime dens. This situation is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately.
Furthermore, the Department should outline plans to repurpose reclaimed buildings for the benefit of NGOs, small businesses, and economic hubs across the province. It must also clarify its stance on criminal prosecutions where fraud, revenue losses, or illegal leases have occurred, including recovery of unpaid rents from government officials and tenants.
The DA remains committed to holding the provincial government accountable. Hijacked buildings are state assets, and the state must act to reclaim, secure, and repurpose them for the public good.