RUSTENBURG, North West — The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is set to publish four comprehensive investigative reports this month addressing systemic service delivery complaints across the North West province, with a primary focus on the Matlosana Local Municipality’s discontinuation of free paraffin supplies.
Shirley Mlambo, the SAHRC North West Provincial Manager, confirmed that the commission will begin releasing these findings in August, starting with a community engagement in the Jakaranda Informal Settlement. The initial report addresses a formal complaint lodged last September regarding the Matlosana Local Municipality’s decision to halt the provision of free paraffin, an alternative energy source heavily relied upon by vulnerable residents.
According to Mlambo, the affected community members are largely dependent on government social grants, including child support, old age pensions, and the R350 social relief of distress grant. The sudden termination of this energy subsidy has severely impacted their daily living conditions. While official invitations were extended to the Matlosana Local Municipality, including Executive Mayor Fikile Mahlophe and the municipal manager, only the municipal manager has submitted an apology for their absence. It remains unconfirmed whether Mayor Mahlophe will attend the disclosure of the findings.
Beyond the paraffin dispute, the SAHRC will release two additional reports on Monday addressing overlapping issues at a private farm in the region. The first of these examines the municipality’s failure to provide adequate sanitation to farm occupiers, highlighting Matlosana’s constitutional obligation as the designated water service authority. The second report investigates allegations of hostile conduct by the farm owner against the occupiers, including the deliberate disruption of water access, firewood collection, and electricity supply.
The fourth and final investigative report for the month will be published on August 26 in Rustenburg. This document will detail ongoing water access challenges affecting multiple villages under the Royal Bafokeng Administration, including the community of Mamerotse and Tlaseng.
The series of upcoming reports underscores the SAHRC’s ongoing mandate to monitor, protect, and advance human rights by holding local authorities and private entities accountable for constitutional service delivery obligations.
