25 Nov 2025

A task force team has been formed to develop comprehensive guidelines regarding the allocation of 1 226 BCL Mine houses bought from the mine liquidator.

The team will comprise representatives from District Commissioner’s office, community leaders and other stakeholders invested in the welfare of former mine workers.

Addressing former BCL workers in Selebi Phikwe recently, Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi said the primary goal of the team was to devise collaborative and informed strategies that would facilitate the fair acquisition of BCL houses.

“The allocation of BCL houses for purchase requires a multifaceted approach that is both collaborative and informed.  Therefore, the task force team will engage in extensive consultations with stakeholders to develop well-rounded policies that will govern the entire process of house allocation and purchase,” Mr Ramogapi said.

He reassured that through the actions of the task force, government was committed to maintaining transparency throughout the process.

Furthermore, he pledged to ensure that the voices of all former BCL employees were actively heard and considered in the decision-making framework, fostering an inclusive environment that honoured their contributions and addressed their housing needs.

Mr Ramogapi opined that BCL’s former employees would be allowed to purchase the houses through Bonno National Housing Scheme, which he said was to create pathways for homeownership among former BCL staff.

Acting chairperson of BCL Interim Committee, Mr Mothusi Taolo, emphasised the need to reassess several residential properties, as many had deteriorated over the years, leading to a marked depreciation in their market values.

One former BCL employee, Mr Western Ebepile said  a substantial portion of these houses still had corrugated roofing made from asbestos, a material known to pose serious health risks if disturbed.

 In light of these concerns, he advocated for targeted assistance for homeowners who wished to replace their roofing materials with safer alternatives, ensuring both health and property values were prioritised.

Another former BCL employee, Mr Montsho Nkepe called for equitable treatment of residents currently living in hostels, as well as those who had returned their mine houses to the authorities.

 He urged that they should also be given a fair chance to purchase the houses, allowing them to secure stable and safe living conditions.

“There should be an inclusive aim to create an opportunity for all affected parties to attain homeownership in a fair and just manner,” he said. ENDS