Communities in Mpumalanga will next week have a chance to interface with Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela, who is visiting the province as part of her office's stakeholder consultative dialogue.
The dialogue is held under the theme “Joining hands to end maladministration and ensure responsive service delivery: Focus on Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses and regulatory gaps on the illegal conversion of panel vans into taxis.”
The Public Protector and her team will on Tuesday meet with interests group drawn from civil society, political parties, academic institutions and officials from local and provincial government in Nelspruit. The meeting will be followed by the Public Protector's closed meeting with the provincial legislature, where she will discuss with them the complaints she would have received on the day and a possible way forward.
On Wednesday the Public Protector will host an outreach event at the Matibidi Cultural Centre near Graskop, where she will dialogue with community members on issues around RDP houses and the alleged illegal conversion of panel vans into taxis.
The issues to be addressed at both events emanate from systemic investigations the Public Protector is currently conducting on RDP houses and the alleged conversion of panel vans into taxis. They include waiting lists, procurement concerns, quality of homes, conveyance arrangements, sale of RDP homes, allegations of corruption, regulatory framework and accountability for challenges such as safety and passenger insurance.
The two-month nationwide campaign is also in line with the constitutional injuction that the Public Protector should be accessible to all persons and communities.
The Public Protector will conclude her visit in the province with a Women's Month commemoration event in Mooiplaas near Carolina in the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality on Thursday, 23 August 2012. The event will be held under the theme “56 years of women united against unemployment, poverty and inequality.”
The meeting with interest groups will be held as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Time: 10h00
Venue: Lowveld Agric College, Nelspruit
The meeting with community members will be held as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Time: 10h00
Venue: Matibidi Cultural Centre, Graskop
The women's month event will be held as follows:
Date: Thursday, 23 August 2012
Time: 10h00
Venue: Mooiplaas Youth Centre, Carolina
Media is invited to cover the events and can confirm attendance with:
Salvation Mokgatlhe
Cell: 079 031 5589
Email: salvationm@pprotect.org or salvation.mokgatlhe@gmail.com
Alternatively confirm with:
Oupa Segalwe
Cell: 072 264 3273
Email: oupas@pprotect.org
For more information, contact:
Kgalalelo Masibi
Spokesperson
Cell: 079 507 0399
Tel: 012 366 7006
E-mail: kgalalelom@pprotect.org
