Parliament, Tuesday, 20 November 2018 – The oversight programme of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Delegation in the West Rand District Municipality in Gauteng is in full swing this week. The NCOP Delegation is currently visiting sites in the area to gather information on the impact of migration on service delivery. When information is received, it will be sent to relevant authorities at the main programme of Taking Parliament to the People (TPTTP) that is currently taking place at the Alberton Civic Centre, for action.
The NCOP Delegation, led by the NCOP Programming Whip, Mr Phel Parkies, started its oversight visit at the Kagiso Hostel and was not impressed by the poor and unhealthy living conditions of the hostel residents. Dilapidated house structures with falling roofs and ceilings that are complemented by poor water provisioning and sanitation and sewerage overflow, make the hostel not suitable place for human habitation.
This morning, the delegation was briefed on the challenges faced by the Muldersdrift Clinic, Agang and Tshepo Yabana non-governmental organisations. Issues of foreign nationals who do not have proper documentation but who seek health services are rife in the clinic. The delegation noted that the clinic is a community-based Health Centre and therefore it cannot operate on a 24-hour basis. Another major challenge that the delegation noted was that ambulances that service the clinic are based in Midrand, and they take a long time to come when called to assist patients.
Later today the delegation will attend an NCOP Plenary at Alberton Civic Centre, at the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, where they will debate the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill and the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Amendment Bill, and also to consider reports on interventions in terms of section 139 of the Constitution .Tomorrow the NCOP Delegation in West Rand will visit Matla Combined School and Swartkop Primary school and conclude the day with a visit to the Busmark firm in Randfontein.
The NCOP’s TPTTP programme in Gauteng is held under the theme: “Impact of migration – deepening cooperative governance for accelerated service delivery and development”.
Taking Parliament to the People is an annual programme of the NCOP, conceptualised in accordance with section 72 of the Constitution, which enjoins the NCOP to facilitate public participation in the legislative process and to conduct its parliamentary business in an open manner.
On the order paper for Thursday’s Plenary will be an Address to the NCOP by the President of the Republic of South Africa and a debate thereon. Members of the media are invited to attend the President’s Address and the debate on the President’s address.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Leader of the NCOP Delegation in West Rand, Mr Phel Parkies, please contact: Mlindi Mpindi (Mr), Mobile: 081 716 7329, email: mmpindi@parliament.gov.za
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ON BEHALF OF MR PHEL PARKIES, LEADER OF THE NCOP DELEGATION IN WEST RAND.
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