More than 8 000 households from the poorest of the poor in the North West rural communities are expected to be absorbed into an ambitious road maintenance programme with the view to alleviate poverty and create sustainable livelihoods.
Driven by the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, the programme, dubbed "Itirele", meaning do it yourself, was launched today (Wednesday) at the rural community of Magokgwane village outside Mafikeng.
Approximately R60 million has been budgeted for the programme and beneficiaries and households from the poorest of the poor, are poised to earn at least R520 a month for working eight days on identified roads.
Work on the roads of a distance of 500 metres and one kilometre stretch will include: regular maintenance of the drainage system, felling of over grown trees branches which will obstruct clear view of the road ahead, clearing verges of the road off litter and weeds and where possible, do minor road surface repairs and fix potholes.
The programme will be rolled out across the province in the month of July, specifically targeting households headed by women in the rural areas which have been identified in the four districts of the province.
"This is our contribution to our rural communities, to improve the lives of the people we ought to answer to. The programme, Itirele is a noble idea, so unique yet so practical and easy to implement, provided we pull together in one direction," said MEC Mahlakeng Mahlakeng.
Addressing the launch, he said for the programme to succeed: "Communities and beneficiaries ought to roll up the sleeves, put shoulder to the wheel and get your hands dirty and in so doing; you (rural communities) will be assisting government turn the tide against poverty and joblessness".
He also made a commitment that all the projects identified for implementation by his department for the current financial year "whether big or small", labour intensive methods will form part of each of them.
"Job creation for sustainable livelihoods is one of the priorities of the government I represent, and the department I lead. We therefore cannot afford to plan endlessly without implementing what we promise our communities," Mahlakeng said.
He said "Itirele" was more than just a poverty relief programme as it would also create "meaningful work, a sense of ownership and collective of performing tasks" in order to achieve more.
Contact:
Matshube Mfoloe
Tel: 018 387 2447
Cell: 082 305 4594
Fax: 086 535 2538
E-mail: mmfoloe@nwpg.gov.za
