The decision to appoint of SANRAL to roll out road infrastructure in the North West province was taken after irregularities and corruption related to awarding of road construction tenders was uncovered and was taken in the interest of the public after comparative analysis revealed that the province paid three to four times more than any other province for its road construction projects and was aimed at eliminating corruption, the North West provincial government asserted on Thursday.
Criticism levelled against Premier Thandi Modise by DA Provincial leader Chris Hattingh in an article published on page 23 of The New Age of 27 February 2013 are outrageous.
The five year road maintenance contract for which SANRAL has been appointed as an implementing agency is targeting main economic and social linkage roads covering 1566 kilometers guarantees the province a R1 billion saving in the medium term expenditure framework and frees resources available for other pressure areas.
In terms of the contract, SANRAL is required to sub-contract 80% of the work to local SMME's to clean drainage systems, fix potholes, fog sprays and re-seals.
The model, as part of our public infrastructure delivery programme to contribute towards job creation, will ensure that the province delivers quality roads within reasonable budgets and eliminate corruption associated with road construction.
The appointment of SANRAL is meant to address the capacity gap within the roads section of the department of Public Works, Roads and Transport and bring in project management, supply chain and requisite road construction experience.
Hattingh’s illogical criticisms are based on ignorance, political expedience and opportunism as they ignore challenges that the department was facing at the time of intervention ,progress made and the turn-around strategy introduced by MEC Elisha. His myopic and uniformed criticisms ignore the morality and benefit of the decision to appoint SANRAL as the implementing agent.
The provincial government is committed to the implementation of the infrastructure development and rollout of the 10-year Provincial Roads Plan as endorsed by stakeholders and communities after District Road Consultation Summits that culminated into the Provincial Road Summit on 2 December 2012.
Contractors are already on site at 10 priority roads that were identified during the summit.
The shortage of diesel that was experience by the department of Public Works, Roads and Transport and resulted in work stoppage on pothole repairs last year has been resolved and is not expected to reoccur as contingency measures have been put in place.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
