Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements convenes Bua le Sechaba in Heildelburg
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s COGTA & Human Settlements Portfolio Committee will convene a Bua le Sechaba campaign with the People of Lesedi Municipality on Thursday and Friday.
The Bua le Sechaba campaign is scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: 19-20 March 2015 (Thursday and Friday)
Time: 09h00
Venue: Ratanda Multi-purpose Centre, Heidelberg.
Through the implementation of the campaign, the Portfolio Committee aims to assess the progress made in integrating and ensuring sustainable human settlements in rural communities and the effectiveness of the Local Government’s Turnaround Strategies (LGTAS) of 2009 in addressing service delivery challenges during the time when the country was overwhelmed with service delivery protests, Gauteng being amongst the most affected provinces.
In response to this, the LGTAS was launched in 2009 to address backlogs and poor provision of basic services such as water, sanitation, refuse removal, electricity and roads.
In preparation of the campaign, the Portfolio Committee embarked on a research exercise inclusive of fieldwork interviews and focus group discussions with communities in the Devon; Endicott; Jameson Park; and Ratanda areas. The data collection exercise was undertaken so the Research Report can assist the Portfolio Committee when resolutions are taken and recommendations made on the state of housing service delivery in these areas amongst others.
The COGTA & Human Settlements Portfolio Committee will convene a Bua le Sechaba meeting on the 19th where the Research findings will be presented before the community, the Lesedi Local Municipality, and the Sedibeng District Municipality.
Furthermore, the Portfolio Committee will also embark on oversight visits on Friday as part of the campaign prior to making its final recommendations and intervention methods. The areas and/or projects to be visited as part of the assessment are:
- Devon Extension (1Pre 1994 and Extension 2RDP Housing Stock) and Vischkuil/Endicott for assessment of: Provision of Basic Services; Access to Socio-Economic Amenities; Progress in the Eradication of Informal Settlements; Unemployment rate; Extension 1Pre 1994; and Extension 2RDP Housing Stock.
- Ratanda (Obed “Mthombeni” Nkosi Mixed Housing Development; Ratanda 1187 Community Residential Units; Ratanda 2216; Shalimar Ridge CRU Hostel Relocation Project) for assessment of: Progress in the Eradication of Informal Settlements; and the Unemployment rate.
Among the participants, the Committee has also invited all municipalities in Gauteng; Randwater; Public Service Commission; SALGA; Eskom; SANCO; as well as the Department.
Members of the Media are invited to attend.
About Bua Le Sechaba: Bua Le Sechaba Project is an initiative of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to take Committees of the Legislature to the people and ensure intervention in the various service delivery challenges experienced by citizens throughout the province.
For more information and interview queries please contact:
Ms Pfano Bulasigobo
Tel: 011 498 6381
Cell: 060 533 1982
E-mail: PBulasigobo@gpl.gov.za.
