20 Aug 2026

A total of 237 individuals classified as non-former employees of BCL mine will be required to vacate and return BCL houses to the BCL/Tati Mines Task Force Team within three months.

District Commissioner for Selibe Phikwe, Ms Boikhutso Matenge, who also spearheads the BCL/Tati Task Force Team, announced this during a consultative meeting with non-former BCL employees.

Non-former BCL employees are individuals who were engaged on contract by companies involved in various mining activities at BCL before its closure. Some of them currently occupy houses among the 1 232 units purchased by government from the BCL liquidator.

Ms Matenge said the decision was intended to facilitate the smooth handover of the houses to eligible former BCL employees who had undergone assessment and verification to determine their eligibility for housing allocation.

She said the initiative would also ensure that available housing was allocated fairly and efficiently, enabling eligible beneficiaries to move into the houses without unnecessary delays.

Ms Matenge said 1 401 individuals had undergone assessment for housing eligibility, with

1139 qualifying for allocation under the established housing guidelines.

She said government would prioritise allocating the remaining available houses to former BCL employees currently residing in hostels.

“Government has purchased 1 232 BCL houses from the liquidator. Of the 1 401 former BCL employees who were assessed, 237 individuals do not meet the criteria outlined in the housing guidelines and, as a result, will be required to vacate their current residences and return the houses to the Task Force Team within three months,” she said.

Ms Matenge further said the houses earmarked for allocation would undergo conditional surveys to assess their current condition and determine the extent of any damage.

She said the assessment was expected to be completed by next month to ensure that the houses were suitable for occupation.

Meanwhile, a former BCL employee Mr Busang Masole expressed concern over the prolonged challenges surrounding the BCL mine and its former employees.

He stressed the need for the matters to be resolved expeditiously, saying closure was important not only for former employees but also for the wider community affected by the mine's closure.

Ms Gofamodimo Lekgowe, a former non BCL employee however, appealed for an extension to allow current occupants to remain in the houses until December.

She said some occupants had children attending school and were facing difficulties finding suitable alternative accommodation in Selibe Phikwe.

Ms Lekgowe said requiring families to vacate their homes at this stage would force them to relocate, potentially disrupting the children's education and negatively affecting their academic performance. ENDS