Mahlobo promises dedicated committee for Harties race row
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo visited Hartbeespoort Dam following protracted racial tensions between black and white-owned businesses in the area.
In September, a black-owned establishment was torched in an alleged arson attack, which left a trail of destruction to the value of an estimated R2 million.
The incident was followed by two marches calling for equal economic opportunities around the dam in North West.
Citing historic racial exclusion, black business owners have accused their white counterparts of denying them access to economic opportunities around the dam.
On the other hand, white businesses and homeowners in the tourist town have accused black-owned establishments of not complying with regulations and municipal by-laws.
Mahlobo condemned what he referred to as destructive conduct from both sides.
“We have to co-exist, and we have to behave in a humane way. Incidents over the last few months have embarrassed us. We should hang our heads in shame, where certain people decided not to respect other members of the community, and those other members made a criminal choice to attack each other.”
The deputy minister promised concerned residents a stakeholder committee tasked with addressing their issues will be established by next month.
Mahlobo said the committee will include representatives from all three tiers of government, the region's traditional leaders, businesses, and interest groups, including those advocating for environmental issues.
“I’m forming structure. I, and the MEC assigned by the premier, we’re going to have a meeting of launching that structure. By the first week of November, the first meeting of launching the structure is going to sit. Organisations that are here will give us a representative. In between, government is going to establish a technical team that will address issues that will feed the steering committee which will be led by the head of water in the province, supported by the head of department for local government; and they will work with the mayor.”
[WATCH] Businessman Thabiso Mathibedi, whose establishment was torched last month, lists his frustrations since acquiring his lease for land along the #Harties Dam in 2018. Mathibedi says black business are blamed for transgressions by their white counterparts pic.twitter.com/0pK20D2PQR
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 14, 2024
Addressing the real bone of contention, which is access to the land around the dam, the deputy minister said the government made the decision to terminate 99-year leases, which were at the centre of conflict around dams across the country.
Under the new regime, tenants are given a lease that is valid for nine years and 11 months. But even that, Mahlobo said, would be reviewed to look at making it favourable for investors.
“Mahlobo confirms four people have been given leases to operate businesses around the Harties Dam under the new nine-year regime,” Mahlobo confirmed.
Representative of the Kosmos Village Association, Daan van Heerden, spoke out against the permission to occupy slips given by the department to business owners around the dam and called for a more permanent solution to the occupation disputes.
Van Heerden warned against using media and racial issues as an excuse to push their own agenda.
“I’m disappointed with the press that they didn’t fully investigate and get to the bottom of the root cause, but when they heard the word racism, they all jumped onto the bandwagon.”
The Department of Water and Sanitation earlier confirmed that an investigation into the alleged irregular issuing of leases by some within their ranks is underway. The deputy also confirmed that whereas in the past, leases were approved by individuals, a committee has now been set up to avoid subjective approvals and curb corruption.
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