Remarks by the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Honourable Pam Tshwete on the occasion of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Week to North West Province, Madibeng Local Municipality
Thank you Chairperson,
Allow me to greet you Chairperson, Hon. China Dodovu Mayor of Madibeng Local Municipality, Cllr Douglas Maimane Members of Parliament
North West MECs led by MEC for Education, Hon Ntsetsao Motsumi who is standing in for the Premier today
Councillors
And Senior Officials from all spheres of government
Let me first thank the NCOP for giving us this opportunity to come and present on the bulk infrastructure projects in North West. it gives us as departments an opportunity to reflect and see where we can improve on how we accelerate delivery of services to our people.
Chairperson, as the department of Human Settlements, we have grants that we transfer to provinces for service delivery of human settlements, namely; Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG), Informal Settlements Upgrading Grant (ISUPG) and the Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG). We have also added an allocation for unblocking of the blocked projects.
In the current financial year 2023/24, the HSDG budget for North West is approximately R1,3billion, of which the allocation for infrastructure is R133million. On the ISUPG, for the current financial year, the province has been allocated approximately R 408million and for unblocking of the blocked projects, the province for the current financial year 2023/24 has been allocated approximately R43million.
Chairperson, we are concerned with the province as the National department, because during quarter 1, the performance of the province is not convincing that by the end of the financial year, it would have spent all the allocation. there is quite a number of projects in the province.
To address the backlog of 38 500 project on N12 through provision of mixed-used housing in line with Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) and for the current 2023/24 financial year, the Province has budgeted R135.2 million for the Matlosana N12 project to deliver 400 units, 355 service sites, 3 671 title deeds.
The N14 Development is a provincial flagship project, with the objectives to provide bulk services, internal services and top
structures (360 units) in Touvleg. The progress to-date on the N14 Development is as follows:
- Installation of internal services on Tshing Extension 9 & 10 has been completed,
- Appointment and introduction of a contractor to undertake bulk services augmentation in Tshing ext.9 and 10 has been done,
- The Department is currently appointing five services providers to construct 1500 houses in Tshing Ext.9.
The province has reported 315 units that needed to be unblocked in this current financial year, of which to-date the province has managed to unblock 12units.
Last year, we visited Deelpan when it was hit by flood disasters that left approximately 800 individuals displaced. Deelpan village is situated on wetland and it got flooded due to heavy rainfalls, where water was coming from upper areas as well from the ground as a result of high ground water table.
Fortunately, no death or injuries were reported during the occurrence. The 800 individuals were evacuated and provided with emergency shelters (Local church, Tribal hall and old age home) and provided with the necessary humanitarian services. It has been reported that most evacuees have returned to their respective homes as their
homes were fit for human habitation. Unfortumately twenty (20) evacuees could not return to their homes and are staying with relatives.
The province has managed to secure 24 hectares and 5 hectares of land for the relocation of affected households. The work has commence with HDA commissioned to start with preliminary investigations of Geotech and hydrology.
The progress at which the province is moving is a concern for us and as the National Department, we will continue to monitor the expenditure and delivery performance, including monitoring of expenditure outside the approved 2023/24 Business Plan as well as transfers to other State Organs. Chairperson, necessary measures will be discussed with the province and to be instituted to improve performance which may include stopping grant funds transfers.
I thank you.
