The North West Provincial Legislature concluded the first day of the Taking the Legislature to the People programme in the Legislature Chamber where community members raised various issues ranging from incomplete and blocked housing projects; water shortages; dilapidated roads infrastructure and lack of maintenance of government buildings. The programme focusing on Ngaka Modiri Molema District themed: “Facilitating Service Delivery and Accountability through effective citizenry participation,” is aimed at creating a platform where Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) engages with community members to hear their concerns on various service delivery issues and discuss possible solutions as well as allow Members of the Executive Council (MECs) from various provincial departments to respond to such issues.
The first day of the programme focused on service delivery issues concerning the Department of Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements and the Department of Public Works and Roads.
Communities raised issues such as lack of recognition of tribal authorities by government departments and municipalities on projects; RDP houses that are not allocated accordingly and dilapidated water and roads infrastructure. Ms. Basebi Molete from Deelpan said community members are still experiencing water challenges as nothing has been done since the disaster in 2022. “Although the tribal authority donated land for relocation of the affected families, government has been slow on providing proper humanitarian support including housing and other services,” said Ms. Molete.
Mr. Mmoloki Molefe from Zeerust said there are many incomplete and blocked housing projects including for military veterans. “Service providers responsible paid to do some of the water and sanitation projects do not complete them hence communities in Dinokana and near villages are suffering,” said Mr. Molefe.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Aaron Motswana informed the attendees that during the recent oversight programme of the legislature in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, the Committee raised various issues such as time taken to implement the Atamelang Water Supply upgrade, and poor coordination between Ramotshere local municipality and Department of Human Settlements over construction of Military Veterans houses in Zeerust.
“Both Tswaing and Mahikeng local municipalities and various departments have also failed to honour the call for humanitarian support to the community of Deelpan that experienced floods disaster in 2022. There has been general dissatisfaction on response and emergency assistance by the provincial government to the community that have been living under water since early last year. There must be standard operating procedure and emergency procurement policies within municipalities and department on dealing with disaster,” said Hon. Motswana.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Roads and Community Safety and Transport Management, Hon. Mmoloki Cwaile said Department of Public Works and Roads should implement various road projects and fast-track renovations of police stations. “Most police stations are dilapidated such as Coligny, Zeerust and Mareetsane,” said Hon. Cwaile.
Department of Public Works and Roads MEC, Gaoagwe Molapisi said the department has prioritised seven internal roads in Deelpan and fixing of damaged bridges in Mareetsane and other areas. “National Public Works Department is working with South African National Defence Force to fix the bridges that collapsed, and we are also doing road patching in areas such as Itsoseng,” said MEC Molapisi.
Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements MEC, Nono Maloyi said the department together with National Home Builders Registration Council has conducted an audit in all blocked and incomplete housing projects in the province. “About R1,4 billion will be appropriated to finish the houses, and we have terminated all the contractors that did not finish the housing projects in the province.
“At Deelpan where the tribal authority donated land for relocation, we are working with Housing Development Agency to conduct a Geo-tech study to check if it is possible to build RDP house there and will identify the beneficiaries. The department together with Office of the Premier has also engaged the Department of Water and Sanitation to use any water grants to finish any water and sanitation projects so that our people can have water,” said MEC Maloyi.
On Wednesday 14 March 2023, the programme will focus on service delivery issues relating to education, sports arts and culture; and Health and Social Development. Members of the Executive responsible for those departments will be there to respond to issues raised.
Section 118 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, provincial legislatures are mandated to facilitate public involvement on an open manner and holding its sittings and committees in public.
Source: Government of South Africa