Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English by Freddy Sonakile MPL
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the recovery of land in Mahikeng, valued at approximately R144 million by the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit. This represents an important step in reclaiming public assets that were lost through fraud and corruption.
However, asset recovery cannot mark the end of the process. It must signal the beginning of accountability, transparency, and delivery for residents.
Mahikeng Local Municipality must now provide clarity on how this land will be utilised to benefit the community. The property, which has been abandoned since 2014, has deteriorated significantly. Existing buildings are structurally compromised, and the site has become a hotspot for criminal activity, posing a serious risk to surrounding communities.
At a time when Mahikeng faces a growing housing backlog and urgent economic challenges, this land presents an opportunity to restore value through development, investment, and service delivery. Allowing it to fall back into neglect would be a continuation of past failures.
The DA will formally request a clear, time-bound action plan from the municipality detailing how the land will be secured, rehabilitated, and repurposed to serve the needs of residents. This must include measures to address safety concerns, prevent further vandalism, and unlock the economic potential of the site.
In addition, the municipality must outline strengthened oversight mechanisms to ensure that public assets are protected from future corruption, mismanagement, and abandonment.
Serious concerns also remain regarding conflicting public statements about the status of the case. While the National Prosecuting Authority has indicated that processes are underway to reinstate the matter, statements from the Executive Mayor, Tshepiso Mphehlo, suggest that arrests have already been made. These inconsistencies require urgent clarification to ensure transparency and maintain public trust.
Asset recovery alone does not constitute justice. Justice is achieved when those responsible for corruption are held accountable and when recovered assets are restored to meaningful public use.
The people of Mahikeng cannot afford another decade of neglect, missed opportunities, and failed governance. The DA will continue to hold the municipality accountable to ensure that this recovered asset delivers real value for residents.