The North West Provincial Legislature visited the Greater Taung Local Municipality during its “O re bone, re go bone” campaign.
The campaign was initiated by the Speaker, Hon. Supra Mahumapelo in his 2012/13 budget speech. The aim of the campaign is to ensure that the Legislature becomes more visible and accessible to the communities, and also to make sure that people of the North West province are given the opportunity to participate and make invaluable inputs in the oversight work carried out by the Committees of the legislature.
The Members of the Legislature interacted with councillors, organised structures and members of the public.
Some of the issues raised mostly had to do with demarcation borders, lack of emergency and disaster houses as Taung often experiences disaster during rainy seasons, scholar transport, lack of vehicles in police stations, water and sanitation, availability of 24 hour medical care, unpaved roads, unemployment, incomplete RDP houses, lack of sound working relationship between tribal authorities, municipality and community.
A member of the community, Mr. Tebogo Tlhabanelo from ward 15 from Mathe complained that the level of crime in their village is very high and the police do not respond timeously on their calls.
“We have serious problem of house breaking in our village and it is because we do not have electricity and the police only assist us when they feel like doing it and sometimes do not pick up the phones to assist,” said Mr. Tlhabanelo.
Another member from Ga Mothibi, Mr. Joel Moseki who is the village headman complained of demarcations.
“Since the dawn of democracy, and recent local government elections; we have requested to be moved to the Northern Cape, because it is difficult for us to access services in North West.
“We cannot access medical assistance because the nearest hospital is in Pampierstad which is in the Northern Cape; and because we belong to North West, we are sent to Taung Hospital which is even further than Pampierstad,” said Mr. Moseki.
Ms. Dora Mothupi from Chiefscourt in Taung said there is no unity between tribal authorities, municipality and community members.
“We often have critical tribal resolutions regarding service delivery but are never implemented,” said Ms. Mothupi.
The Joint Committees meeting with the MECs of different departments which was scheduled to discuss matters raised by community members could not proceed because M.E.Cs did not attend.
The Committees concluded that different departments together with the municipality and tribal authority need to speed up service delivery to uplift the lives of the ordinary citizens who cannot speak for themselves.
They urged different stakeholders to unite in the fight against crime and corruption which is a major effect that contributes to poor service delivery.
The campaign will end with the Standing Committee on Petitions holding an oversight meeting with petitioners from Manokwane village regarding disaster houses in the area.
Enquiries:
Namhla Luhabe
Cell: 079 527 0628.
E-mail: namhla@nwpl.org.za
