Mr Johannes Hartnick of the Olieboomkraal Cooperative in Slangrivier, in acknowledging the NCOP's intervention, said: "We are happy that the NCOP kept its promise of ensuring that we receive the 18-kilometre fencing for our farming land, as well as the two stock water troughs."
The fence and water troughs installation project, which is expected to be completed in a couple of weeks' time, is being funded by the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform at a budget of R2.8 million. The project also provided employment and business opportunities for the local people of Slangrivier - eight locals were employed and four subcontractors came from the community.
The satellite clinic in Slangrivier also received a boost due to the NCOP's visit last year, in that the doctor now spends a longer time at the clinic. According to the Western Cape Minister of Health, Ms Nomafrench Mbombo, her department is in a process of ensuring that doctors are on duty on the weekends to help the people of Hessequa. To deal with challenges associated with anti-retroviral (ARV) and chronic medication, she said they were busy training nurses in local clinics to prescribe and distribute ARVs while increasing chronic medication distribution points.
Meanwhile, in KwaNokuthula the local crèche had been closed for eight months, but the Department of Social Development and the municipality were pleased to inform the NCOP delegation that operations have improved. The Department of Social Development told the NCOP delegation that the crèche has since initiated all processes required to register as an early childhood development centre and was awaiting its non-profit organisation number. The Department of Social Development said it will continue making follow-ups in this regard.
After learning of about 200 toddlers who are unable to attend this crèche because it can only accommodation 32 children, the NCOP delegation said the municipality needed to ensure that as many children as possible in KwaNokuthula had access to early childhood development programmes.
With regard to the upgrading of the Melkhoutfontein informal settlements, the delegation was pleased to hear the progress in this regard, but urged the municipality to ensure public participation so that people were informed about developments that concerned them. This emerged as community members said they knew nothing about the 170 sites the municipality plans upgrading or how the process would be handled.
The NCOP delegation in Hessequa which was led by House Chairperson, Ms Masefako Dikgale, held a community meeting later in the day yesterday.
Temba Gubula
20 April 2016
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