The administration and leadership in JB Marks reiterated during the State of the City Adress that the 2026/27 budget will focus on various government grants to develop key critical bulk infrastructure.

The Executive Mayor of the JB Marks Local Municipality, Cllr. Gaba Thithiba Ka Qhele, emphasised the need to utilise grants to their full potential and turning JB Marks into a construction site.

This includes utilising the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, Water Services Infrastructure Grant, Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant and the Integrated National Electrification Programme.

“Since 2023 we have never lost any government funding allocated to the Municipality and if anything, we have been able to attract the additional funding due to our outstanding spending performance,” mentioned Ka Qhele.

He also emphasised that the municipality in currently engaged with private companies and stakeholders to better service delivery and help solve the infrastructure and service delivery problems.

Key projects: Municipal Infrastructure Grant (R82.6 million)

The Municipal Infrastructure Grant will fund a range of projects, including:

• Construction of a community hall in Promosa – R2 million
• Construction of Dock Street in Ventersdorp – R14.4 million
• Upgrading of sports facilities in Ventersdorp – R20 million
• Desludging and upgrading of the Sledge Lagoon – R11.2 million
• Construction of an LED Hub Centre – R1.7 million
• Ikageng Extension 6 sewer reticulation – R1 million
• Upgrading of the Mohadin and Poortjie Dam bulk sewer system – R2 million
• Procurement of specialised vehicles – R6.4 million
• Construction of sewer reticulation and top structures – R2.6 million
• Ikageng Extension 6 water reticulation – R1.8 million
• Water reticulation in Greenfields – R5.6 million
• Project Management Unit costs – R4.1 million

Water Services Infrastructure Grant (R65.8 million)

Projects funded through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant include:

• Upgrading of the Botha Pump Station – R20 million
• Upgrading of the Ventersdorp Water Treatment Plant – R11 million
• Upgrading of the Robertlaan Pump Station – R12.3 million
• Upgrading of sewer lines in Promosa and Poortjie Dam – R22.6 million
• Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant (R21.3 million)
• Ikageng Corridor Project – R21.3 million

Integrated National Electrification Programme (R15.6 million)

Funding will be allocated towards:

• Electrification of Promosa Extension 4 – R8.9 million
• Construction of a new 20MVA 132kV/11kV substation in Ventersdorp – R5.4 million
• Electrification of Promosa Extension 5 – R1 million
• Electrification of Kgoro Maraledi Kgapamadi – R300 000

Additional Infrastructure Allocation (R25 million)

An additional R25 million has been earmarked for infrastructure and service delivery projects, including:

• Upgrading of the Mosidi sewer line – R2.5 million
• Upgrading of sewer lines in Extension 4 – R2.5 million
• Drieboompies Bridge – R1 million
• Addressing waterlogged streets in Extension 11 – R2 million
• Internal basic services for the Marikana and Sarafina informal settlements – R2 million
• Pegging and township establishment – R2 million
• Desludging of VIP toilets – R2 million
• Boreholes – R2 million
• Installation of 20 high-mast lights – R3 million

The following key service delivery plant and machinery have been procured and delivered to the Municipality:

• 2 Tipper trucks,
• 1 Tractor-Loader-Backhoe (TLB)
• 1 Compacting roller machine
• 1 Excavating machine,
• 1 Bulldozer machine
• 4 Pedestal Mounted trucks
• 2 Extended cabs
• 2 Nissan NP200 bakkies
• 6 Volkswagen transporters
• 6 Ford ranger bakkies

Opposition regarding the visual picture of JB Marks at ground level

DA caucus leader in JB Marks, Hans-Jurie Moolman, has painted a far less optimistic picture of the municipality’s performance.

He argues that deteriorating road and sewerage infrastructure, repeated failures at waste management facilities, water leaks, and mounting debt for bulk services indicate that the municipality is in decline rather than progressing.

“Development and investment in the city is been brought to a halt because infrastructure that is still operational has reached its capacity.  The construction site that the Executive Mayor refers to is not growth, but repairs to our existing system that is at capacity because of a lack of forward planning.”

Moolman further contended that economic growth and investment are being constrained by ageing infrastructure such as municipal buildings that are increasingly facing safety concerns. He also criticised the operation of the Potchefstroom Dam Resort, describing it as a financial burden that no longer provides meaningful benefits to residents.

According to Moolman, ongoing infrastructure failures and financial challenges undermine the successes highlighted by the mayor and point to a municipality struggling to meet its core service delivery obligations, especially when it comes to accountability.

“Oversight requires accountability.  It means that we are mandated to approve a budget that is both back and forward looking.  We need to have confidence that we have achieved and that we will achieve. That we are faithful to our communities in making every cent count if tangible service delivery.   We have witnessed the opposite.”