Free State and Western Cape Oversight Report; First Term Programme

Video The Committee convened to consider the report on its oversight visit to the Free State and Western Cape, during which it inspected projects in Mangaung, reviewed the situation in George in the aftermath of last year's fatal building collapse, and was apprised of construction, environmental and security challenges in the Hout Bay Harbour area. Participants included representatives of the Departments of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), Correctional Services (DCS), Employment and Labour (DEL), Social Development (DSD), Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), the South African Police Service (SAPS), and municipal officials. The oversight visits encompassed DPWI projects, including construction project management, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), and small harbours development. In Mangaung, the Grootvlei Chicken Broiler Project was examined, revealing that practical completion had been delayed because additional sewer pump station works needed to be completed by July 2026. Site inspections confirmed operational readiness of most components, while EPWP non-profit organisations' beneficiaries raised concerns regarding inconsistent payment cycles and extended work hours beyond the contracted schedule. In George, presentations and site visits highlighted failures in contractor accountability, municipal inspection processes, legal capacity, and regulatory enforcement, resulting in significant financial losses and delays following a building collapse. Victims reported severe emotional, financial, and administrative distress, with many experiencing difficulty accessing promised support from the Presidency, the DEL, DSD, and the South African Social Security Agency. Foreign nationals had faced challenges due to documentation requirements, even though legal experts confirmed their eligibility for assistance. Victims had submitted a formal memorandum to Parliament, appealing for interim financial support, expedited labour claims, accountability of the National Home Builders Registration Council, improved psychosocial support, preservation of the collapsed site as a memorial, and the prosecution of responsible parties. The Hout Bay Harbour oversight identified challenges including abandoned and vandalised infrastructure, irregular leases, weak security, and limited municipal resources. The DPWI, DFFE and SAPS highlighted operational weaknesses, crime risks, and the need for improved access control and infrastructure rehabilitation. Community members and cooperatives expressed long-standing grievances about unfulfilled commitments, inconsistent management structures, stalled aquaculture initiatives, and illegal occupation of DPWI properties. Site inspections confirmed ongoing sewage spills, abandoned vessels, and illegally occupied buildings. The Committee recommended that other portfolio committees take relevant action, including mitigating infrastructure delays at Grootvlei, strengthening policing and access control in Hout Bay, improving disaster support and claim processing, and enforcing municipal accountability in George. The Committee also issued 15 targeted recommendations to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, such as completing Grootvlei by July 2026, expanding EPWP placements, modernising the national building regulations, prioritising community beneficiaries in harbour leasing, redeveloping abandoned buildings, enhancing security across small harbours, resolving sewer issues in Hout Bay with the City of Cape Town, and formalising multi-agency coastal governance.