Parliament, Monday, 28 October 2024 – The Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and the Minister in the Presidency last week conducted an oversight visit to the Ugu District Municipality and eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. The objective of the visit was to assess the capacity of national, provincial and local government to deliver social and transport infrastructure.
At the commencement of the visit, the committee was welcomed by Cllr SN Caluza, on behalf of the executive mayor of Ugu District Municipality. During the briefing session, the committee heard both national and provincial perspectives on road transport in the Ugu District. The committee also heard the municipal perspective on road and social infrastructure issues from Umdoni and Umzumbe local municipalities.
The site visits started with a briefing from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), which was responsible for building the Port Shepstone Magistrates’ Court on behalf of the Department of Justice. During the tour, the committee commended the DPWI on constructing dignified court facilities for those who have matters heard in specialised courts such as the Family Court and the Sexual Offences Court. The court manager added that the facilities make provision for sector departments involved in the criminal justice system (such as social workers, the family advocate, legal aid and the South African Police Services) to centralise their services within the court complex.
An active citizenry requires access to government services, economic opportunities and social networks within the community. The committee therefore also visited the Frankland Community Hall in Umzumbe Local Municipality and the Dlangezwa Community Hall in Umdoni Local Municipality. The halls are used by surrounding communities for public gatherings and meetings and, while the halls are in good condition and provide suitable amenities, the committee sought an undertaking that all poor workmanship identified should be attended to. The committee also encouraged the municipalities to use the community halls to generate income by hiring them out for private functions.
Through the Rural Road Asset Management Grant, access roads such as the Old Clinic Road, which the committee viewed, ensures that households and services vehicles such as ambulances are able to access homes, even during adverse weather. In response to challenges identified during the visit, the committee also met with the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality on the construction of the Go! Durban C1 Corridor, which forms part of Phase 1 of the Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN) in the municipality.
The continuation of the roll-out of the project is currently being jeopardised by an impasse between the municipality and the national Department of Transport concerning the requirements of the Public Transport Operations Grant. This has required the municipality to approach the Minister of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to initiate the mediation provisions contained in the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act 13 of 2005. The committee has undertaken to maintain oversight over the resolution of this matter, as the provision of reliable, efficient and affordable public transport is a key requirement for both economic growth and sustaining the livelihoods of households and communities.
The committee concluded the oversight visit with a briefing by Transnet on measures to improve port capacity through its operational improvement plan. Transnet has assured the committee of its readiness to meet client demand over the upcoming festival season. The committee was taken on a tour of the port facilities to identity the various areas earmarked for inclusion in the port’s strategic expansion master plans.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY, MR RIKUS BADENHORST.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Yoliswa Landu (Ms)
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E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
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