Parliament, Friday, 19 September 2024 – The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have called for the collaboration of role players in all spheres of government and the broader provincial community to alleviate challenges that cause delays, stoppages, or abandonment of provincial and municipal infrastructure projects in the province.
The delegation, led by Provincial Whip Mr. Mzamo Billy, together with the NCOP Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Les Govender, assessed service delivery challenges related to the provision of viable public infrastructure to communities in the province as part of the NCOP Provincial Week programme.
Over the past few days, the delegation conducted oversight visits to the Hammarsdale Wastewater Treatment Plant, Durban Transport Project in Phoenix, Menzi High School in Umlazi, Kennedy Road Housing Project in Chesterville, and the Umkomazi Water Project.
Mr. Billy said that the province is addressing the challenge of pit latrines in schools and that the backlog of clinics is also being tackled. A plan to construct 11 clinics was approved in the 2023/24 budget. Construction of three of these clinics has begun in Nyavini in Ugu, Mpolweni in Umgungundlovu, and Mpaphala in King Cetshwayo.
At the Umkomazi Water Project, Mr. Govender highlighted the importance of community dialogue, advising that it is through such platforms that people scrutinize the effectiveness of services provided to the community. “Community meetings are laboratories where we must analyze and find remedies for service delivery deficiencies. These platforms should also be used to instill a collaborative approach towards service delivery.”
Mr. Billy said that local government authorities must regularly conduct meetings with the community to gain a deeper understanding of their needs. Armed with vital information from the ground, they can press the national government to provide the resources and policy-making power needed to effect large-scale changes in the communities they serve.
Mr. Billy emphasized that it is unacceptable for construction mafias to impede projects that would benefit the local people. He noted that Menzi High School is one of the best-performing schools in the country. The infrastructure upgrade project at the school aims to provide a new, modern, upgraded facility with enough space to accommodate more teachers and learners. However, the KZN Department of Education incurred additional costs for standing time by contractors due to work stoppages on the project.
Today, the delegation will hold a debriefing meeting with provincial leaders to address issues arising from the Provincial Week programme. The objective of the briefing meeting will be to ensure that mechanisms are put in place to address policy implementation weaknesses and coordination gaps across the three spheres of government.
The session will also aim to develop a cluster of interlinked tracking, monitoring, oversight, impact assessment, and report-back mechanisms, which will run in tandem with the implementation timelines agreed upon with various departments in KwaZulu-Natal.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCIAL WHIP IN THE NCOP, MR MZAMO BILLY.
For media interviews with NCOP Delegates and details of the programme, please contact:
Mr. Mlindi Mpindi (Media Liaison Official)
081 716 7329
Email: mmpindi@parliament.gov.za
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