Kimberley - MEC Bentley Vass responsible for the Department of COGHSTA, in the Northern Cape, presented Budget Vote 9 of the Department in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, on Tuesday, 29 July 2025.
In an all-encompassing statement to the legislature, focusing on the mandate of the Department, MEC Vass, outlined key programmes to uplift the lives of the people of the Northern Cape with the total budget of R1,068 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year.
On Human Settlements, MEC Vass said, the 1 Billion Rand Housing Project is on track to deliver 2500 houses as part of the first phase of this groundbreaking project to house the nation. MEC Vass said ‘’We are working closely with our Contractors, to ensure the rapid delivery of houses to the people of the Northern Cape. On 25 June 2025, we introduced the contractor that will install services for the new Roodepan Housing Project. This project will be completed in three phases; namely town planning, - which is already completed; the second phase is installation of civil services the third phase will be the construction of top structures - BNG houses’’.
On Cooperative Goverance which is a programme that is playing an instrumental role in ensuring that all 31 Municipalities across the Province, are providing communities with essential services such as clean water, proper sanitation, reliable electricity, effective waste management, and well-maintained roads and municipal infrastructure, MEC Vass made a commitment to work closely with the municipalities to ensure that better support within the limited financial resources allocated to the Department for this programme.
MEC Vass, acknowledged and appreciated the important role that traditional leaders play in the system of cooperative governance and the adopted District Development Model plan.
MEC Vass, welcomed the Commission of Inquiry established by Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, into traditional leadership disputes in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, led by Professor Mandla Maseko. He said ‘’We trust that they will diligently work towards ensuring a fair platform for all disputants and claimants and to produce a report at the end of the 24 months provided for in the gazette, so that in areas where there are disputes, our traditional communities can live in harmony and foster a spirit of co-existence’’.
The MEC committed that the Department of COGHSTA will use the limited financial resources as maximally as possible to render good quality services to the people of the Northern Cape, and to contribute towards the attainment of a Modern, Growing and Successful Province.