The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on the MEC of Finance, Venus Blennies-Magage, for an urgent intervention as the Upington Industrial Park continues to deteriorate, with vandalism increasing and repeated promises by the Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA) to deploy security by April 2026, still unfulfilled.
The total absence of security on site leaves the facility exposed to ongoing theft and damage.
The guard houses have been completely destroyed, with lighting, fixtures and windows stripped. Weak fencing and no access control have left the site unsecured.
Key infrastructure failures also persist.
The main gate has been closed since January, severely restricting access, while an open trench at the entrance remains unattended despite repeated repair commitments. NCEDA previously committed on 18 March that gate and entrance works would be completed within two weeks, but no meaningful progress had been made to date.
Operations are further disrupted by contractor work stoppages linked to non-payment, leaving repairs incomplete and contributing to prolonged power outages and water losses affecting businesses in the park.
Serious concerns remain over workmanship and procurement. Paving was installed on poorly prepared foundations with excessive sand and inadequate compaction, leading to structural failure. These failures reflect weak oversight and poor accountability in the use of public funds. They also form part of a broader pattern, with previous road repairs failing within a month.
Given NCEDA’s push for the park to be handed over to Dawid Kruiper Municipality, the DA welcomes the Municipal Manager’s position that the facility must first be properly repaired.
In addition to calling on MEC Blennies-Magage for an intervention, we will also intensify pressure on the municipality to urgently engage NCEDA, to address the escalating decay at the industrial park. The Upington Industrial Park must be restored as a functional economic asset, not allowed to remain as a symbol of neglect and failed governance.