By Yvonne Motsamai-Lobelo
GANYESA: A long-standing housing backlog in the rural Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality is showing signs of resolution, as provincial oversight reveals steady advancement on previously stalled Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) projects.
The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, chaired by Hon. Kgalalelo Makgokgowa, conducted an oversight visit in early February 2026 to several sites in the municipality, including Ganyesa, Kudunkgwane, Dipudi, Tlapeng, and surrounding areas. The visit formed part of the North West Provincial Legislature’s ongoing oversight programme across municipalities in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
A key focus was a revived project that had been blocked for over a decade. In 2023, Malapane Constructions was appointed to refurbish and complete 73 incomplete RDP houses at a cost exceeding R50 million. Committee members inspected the sites and expressed satisfaction with the contractor’s work.
“The Committee is impressed with the progress of the contractor on the completion of the housing projects,” Hon. Makgokgowa stated during the visit. The project is on track for full completion by 31 March 2026.
This initiative represents the initial phase of a broader effort to unblock approximately 800 unfinished RDP houses across Kagisano-Molopo. Many of these units were left incomplete due to historical challenges, including the transfer of tranches for RDP construction to municipalities without adequate follow-through, leading to prolonged abandonment and community frustration.
The oversight visit aligns with provincial and national priorities to address housing backlogs in rural areas, where access to decent shelter remains a critical need. Earlier interventions, such as the Thuntsha Lerole Reloaded service delivery programme in late 2025, included the handover of five completed RDP houses in Tlapeng village as part of similar unblocking efforts.
Kagisano-Molopo, a vast rural municipality bordering Botswana and encompassing villages like Ganyesa (its administrative centre), has long faced infrastructure and service delivery hurdles amid governance instability. The revival of these housing projects marks tangible progress toward improving living conditions for residents.
Provincial authorities continue to monitor implementation closely, with the Legislature emphasising accountability, quality workmanship, and timely delivery to ensure beneficiaries receive homes that meet basic standards of dignity and safety.
This development comes as the North West government pushes forward with integrated service delivery initiatives, combining housing with water, roads, and other essentials to uplift communities in underserved areas.
Residents in the affected villages are expected to benefit significantly once the current phase concludes, contributing to reduced housing shortages and enhanced community stability in this remote Kalahari-fringe region.
