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AfriForum today made an urgent appeal to Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, to investigate the collapse of part of the office complex of the Traditional Council of the Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi traditional community of Disaneng, in the vicinity of Mahikeng, North West. The office partially collapsed on Wednesday, 29 January, at 18:30 – only a few hours after the last people had left the building.

Construction of the office complex began in 2016 and was handed over to the Traditional Council in 2018. Since the council moved in in 2018, they have identified and reported several construction-related problems. The problems included cracks in the walls, gaps between the ceiling and walls, water leaks and sagging of the roof. An independent inspection requested by the Traditional Council pointed out that some of the problems could have a detrimental effect on the structural integrity of the building. However, the North West provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport took no action. AfriForum stresses that the building’s collapse, which thankfully did not result in any human casualties, could have been prevented.

In its letter to Macpherson, AfriForum urgently calls on the Minister to conduct an investigation to determine the root causes of the building’s collapse and establish why the reported problems were ignored for years. AfriForum also warns that other government buildings may pose the same risks and that the authorities must identify such structures and take action to prevent similar incidents.

“Urgent action by the Minister is essential. Human lives are at stake. It is only a mercy that the building collapsed at a time when there was no one in it,” says Barend Uys, Head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation at AfriForum. “However, these events could have resulted in a tragedy. Other government buildings within traditional communities may also be at risk and are a ticking time bomb due to the authorities’ disregard of the problems.”

Uys argues that challenges such as these highlight the value of positive intercultural relations and cooperation. “Cultural communities need each other and that is why AfriForum is actively building a network of cultural communities that can assist each other to ensure a future for all the communities’ children here at the southern tip of Africa,” concludes Uys.

AfriForum and the Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi forged ties in 2023 and have since embarked on several joint projects that focus on promoting cultural identity and community self-sufficiency.

Issued by AfriForum