Unblocking blocked projects in Moretele
The chairperson of the portfolio committee on human settlements Aron Motswana has welcomed and complimented the work that the department of Human Settlements has done since their last visit to the Moretele local municipality. The portfolio committee was on an oversight visit to check on human settlements and other blocked projects in the municipality on Monday.
According to Motswana, there are a lot of blocked projects across the province and further urged the department to Fast track the process of unblocking them. The department has thus far managed to unblock all projects in Moretele. The portfolio committee is further expected to visit other blocked projects in the Bojanala district this week.
Motswana also called on the department to improve its communication with municipalities so that they are on the same wavelength. “We need to make sure that both spheres of government are on par. The municipality needs to know what the Department is doing. Constant meetings with project steering committees are pivotal to avert possible community unrest, due to service delivery issues,” said Motswana.
Recently Human Settlement MEC in the North West Lenah Miga, informed the media that her department is in the process of unblocking most of the blocked projects across the province. She said most contractors are already on site and she hope that those projects will be completed as soon as possible to reduce the already existing housing backlog.
She however indicated that procurement to unblock other blocked projects is underway. “As soon as the procurement process is completed, developers will be appointed and work will begin. I trust that officials will work around the clock to make sure that such projects are unblocked. “But due to budgetary constraints not all projects that will be unblocked in this financial year. We will budget for the remaining blocked projects as guided by the audit made on all blocked projects,” said MEC Miga.
The portfolio committee will continue to inspect other blocked projects in the areas of Madibeng, Rustenburg, Moses Kotane and Kgetleng local municipalities this week.
Source: Government of South Africa