Governance, Growth, and Gridlock: A Busy Week in JB Marks Local Municipality
- Karen Scheepers
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
This week, municipal leadership issued several key directives affecting local entrepreneurs, community stakeholders, and residents. From unlocking retail and industrial spaces for small businesses to inviting public input on municipal performance goals and managing emergency infrastructure repairs, the local government is actively navigating both long-term planning and immediate community needs.
SMME Boost: Vacant Business Units Open at Ikageng Light Industrial Park
In a bid to foster local economic development, the JB Marks Local Municipality has officially issued a “Call for Expression of Interest,” inviting local Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to submit proposals for vacant business units. The available spaces are located within the Ikageng Light Industrial Park and include Units A3, A6, C3, D1, and D2. Each unit measures 45 square meters ($45\text{m}^2$) and is priced at a rental rate of R40 per square meter, equipped with independent municipal electricity coupon systems.
To ensure transparency and compliance, the municipality has outlined strict mandatory submission requirements. Prospective tenants must provide:
A SARS confirmation with a Verification Pin.
A comprehensive Business Proposal or Company Profile.
Relevant CIPC documentation, Company Registration, or Founding Statements.
Certified ID copies of all managing directors and owners (certified within the last 90 days).
Proof of Public Liability Insurance.
A Municipal Account Statement confirming that services are not in arrears for more than 90 days (or an accompanying affidavit/lease agreement if the account is not in the applicant’s name).
Furthermore, qualifying criteria dictate that applicants must actively reside and operate within the JB Marks Local Municipality jurisdiction. Eligible businesses must have been operational for at least two years and possess their own functional machinery and equipment. Due to spatial limitations, heavy manufacturing or production activities will not be permitted.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the municipal SMME Development Policy, Supply Chain Management Policy, business viability, and job creation potential. Government employees are strictly excluded from allocation. Interested entrepreneurs can collect site documents at the Local Economic and Rural Development Office (Tourism Building, Cnr. Nelson Mandela Drive and Walter Sisulu Street). A public site viewing is scheduled for Friday, 26 June 2026, from 08:30 to 12:30. The final deadline for hand-delivered submissions is Tuesday, 30 June 2026, at 12:00 PM. For inquiries, residents can contact Dr. Brenda Roberts-Tebejane at 018 299 5012 or via email.
Public Voice Welcomed in Setting 2026/2027 Key Performance Indicators
In line with legislative mandates under the Municipal Systems Act and Municipal Planning and Performance Regulations, the municipality is calling on local community members and stakeholders to actively participate in civic governance. Under the direction of Municipal Manager Mr. K. Kumbe, a public notice has been issued inviting inputs for the setting of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Performance Targets for the 2026/2027 Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP).
The 2026/2027 Draft SDBIP is currently available for public viewing during standard working hours at the Performance Management Section, located on the 2nd Floor of the Dan Tloome Building.
The municipality views this exercise as a foundational step toward accountability and tailored service delivery. Residents are encouraged to review the framework and submit their written or emailed comments to ensure that municipal targets align with community expectations. The hard-copy submissions can be delivered to the Dan Tloome Building (Cnr. Wolmarans and Sol Plaatjie Street, Potchefstroom), while electronic feedback can be sent directly to the Performance Management System Manager via email. The closing date for all community inputs is Tuesday, 30 June 2026, at 13:00.
Infrastructure Alert: Water Interruption Hits Ikageng and Potchindustria
While looking ahead to future planning, the municipality simultaneously faced sudden infrastructure challenges this week. On Thursday, 18 June 2026, the communications unit issued an urgent media alert regarding severe water supply interruptions affecting multiple sectors of the municipality.
The disruption was caused by an operational accident on Lekhele Street, where an active contractor accidentally ruptured two critical bulk water pipelines. The damaged infrastructure serves as a primary supply line to all Extension areas of Ikageng, sections of Old Ikageng (Ikageng Proper), and the Potchindustria industrial zone.
Municipal technical teams, alongside the contractor, deployed to the site immediately on Thursday to conduct emergency repairs. However, due to the complexity of the damage, work extended into the late hours. The suspension of pumping operations, combined with ongoing consumer demand, has caused regional reservoir levels to steadily decline. The JB Marks Local Municipality has extended a sincere apology to all affected residents and businesses for the inconvenience, maintaining that teams are working diligently to restore full water pressure to the pipeline network as quickly as possible.
Power Outage Affects Sections of Baillie Park and Grimbeek Park
The JB Marks Local Municipality is currently addressing an unscheduled power outage that has disrupted the electricity supply to several areas within Baillie Park and Grimbeek Park. The service interruption was flagged on Friday morning, 19 June 2026, and promptly reported to the municipal infrastructure department. Subsequent technical investigations revealed that the root cause of the outage stems from a network fault at the Epsilon substation. Municipal electricians have been deployed to the site to carry out the necessary repairs; however, due to the complex nature of the substation failure, officials have noted that it is not yet possible to provide a definitive timeline for the full restoration of power.
Final Note:
Through these overlapping developments, the JB Marks Local Municipality highlights the complex nature of local governance, where long-term economic strategies and democratic community planning must continuously run parallel to unexpected operational maintenance. As deadlines approach at the end of June for both commercial space bids and legislative performance inputs, municipal leadership continues to urge active and responsive civic participation from all its residents.
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