The North West government has spent millions of rands on renting private offices while several state-owned buildings have been left to deteriorate and fall into disrepair.
Opposition parties and activists in the province say the high number of hijacked and dilapidated government buildings is deliberate and part of a corrupt scheme.
The post office in Mmabatho has been closed for years, and the building has been completely abandoned.
It’s now occupied by homeless people and drug addicts, some of whom openly defecate near the building.
But it’s not the only derelict building in the North West capital of Mahikeng.
There are at least five government offices that lie empty and dilapidated.
Just across the road from the post office is the privately owned Mmabatho Mega City Mall, which houses more than ten government department offices.
The DA’s North West leader, Freddy Sonakile, says there is no reason the government cannot repurpose the post office building and others to house its own departments.
“I can’t think of any reason except to say corruption, because if you are willing to give the private sector money, money that can be utilised for service delivery and opt for that money to lease buildings when you have buildings that are sitting idle. It’s collusion between private owners and government, something that needs to be looked into.”
While the North West government has come under fire for the neglect and abandonment of State-owned buildings, residents and community activists say the urban decay in the provincial capital has robbed the city of its potential
The former state Bophuthatswane guest house on Gordon Street lies in a derelict state.
Locals remember how it was used by the homeland’s leader, Lucas Mangope, to host dignitaries and special guests who would visit Mahikeng.
But despite the fresh white paint, signalling recent visits and attempts at restoring the house, the structure has been vandalised both inside and outside.
When EWN visited the house, it found a security book which shows the last entry was made in June 2023 with a guard’s comment saying “all is in order.”
Community activist, Tumo Molawa, says this is an example of a much bigger problem in the provincial capital.
The North West government didn’t respond to questions sent to them by EWN.
Thabiso Goba
www.ewn.co.za
