The ongoing delay in the relocation of families affected by Voelpan contunues to cause great distress

Thabang Thembani

During a disaster management meeting on 27 September 2025, the Premier of the Free State, Ma-Queen Letsoha-Mathae, promised the affected individuals that they would be moved into new housing by Christmas 2025. As of today, this has yet to happen. Calvin Mokobori, a general worker at the construction site and coordinator for Mining-Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) for the Nyakallong and Allanridge branch, highlighted that the contractors were problematic in completing the project due to a lack of materials and delays in payment. We really struggled. I had to speak for all of us because things were getting
out of hand. The contractor would not pay us and would go to Bloemfontein.

Additionally, there was another project we were supposed to work on, but we couldn’t continue because we didn’t have enough materials and were told to just leave it,he explained. He also noted that working conditions were unsafe, as workers had to bring their own personal protective equipment (PPE). Ntate Thabo Maseng, an affected resident who has lived with the Voelpan issue for years, expressed his disappointment about still residing in an affected house. He lamented, ;The unjust government does not respect its citizens and lacks empathy; it can never deliver justice to the people. The promise made in 2025 was likely made out of excitement and an attempt to score points against opposition parties present at the meeting.

He expressed his disillusionment, stating that “the interventions meant to serve justice for the people have instead become unjust for those working on the project.”
Mosele Katu, who recently built a wall for her yard, shared her heartbreak over losing all her hard-earned money. The days my family and I went to bed hungry just so I could save are gone down the drain. My wall and house are just an inch away from collapsing because my yard is flooded. We were promised better housing in Allanridge, only to find that so far, only five RDP houses have been built since last year.

The contractor was replaced due to observed irregularities, but the affected community is still waiting to hear when they will be expected to relocate. Community members should be included in the housing construction process, as there are qualified contractors, builders, and engineers available within the community. Moreover, the community should be kept informed about the reasons for the delays, and in the meantime, they should be compensated for the time they are
still waiting for housing, especially as the winter season approaches.