The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Norman Mokoena and the MEC for Human Settlements, Mr Madala Masuku have visited the Dipaleseng local municipality. The MECs were accompanied by the Executive Mayor of Gert Sibande district municipality, Councillor Andries Gamede and the Executive Mayor of Dipaleseng, Councillor Lefty Tsotetsi.
The aim of the visit by the MECs was to assess the progress made in dealing with issues that were agreed upon when the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Sicelo Shiceka visited the municipality in February this year.
After the visit the MECs acknowledged that whilst most of the work was still work in progress, significant progress has been made in dealing with the issues. MEC Norman Mokoena says that the visit has been a very positive one and it allowed them to get first hand information as to what the real situation is on the ground and the communities' reaction to the progress.
"We are pleased with the positive spirit that has been displayed by the community in working with the government in dealing with the issues that have affected them. The community members that l interacted with are very receptive of government's projects and they acknowledge that this will bring an improvement in their lives," said Mokoena.
MEC Madala Masuku indicated that he was satisfied with the progress that was being made to deal with the incomplete houses and that he has instructed the department to develop an acceleration plan to fast track the process.
MEC Masuku also indicated that he was not satisfied with the progress that was being made in completing the steel structures in Mandela section, Siyathemba and this is a matter that his department will deal with urgently.
"The visit has not only enabled me to assess the progress being made with dealing with the housing projects but it has also enabled me to visit other housing projects, where l saw some unsatisfactory work. We will be sending in a team of technical experts from the department immediately to do a technical assessment of these houses," said Masuku.
The MECs visited the following projects in Balfour; construction of a disaster management centre, construction of Department of Social Development offices and paving of Dyer and Stuart Streets. In Grootvlei they visited an electrification project of 387 houses, 1,5 kilometre road under construction, renovation Tekamo Service Centre and Amukeleni Primary School by Burnstone Mine and the installation of water taps in 600 households.
In Greylingstad and Nthoroane they visited the community hall which is still under construction, a 1,5 kilometre road under construction and the Itumeleng Service Center renovated by Burnstone Mine.
The problem of water quality that has affected the municipality for a long time has been resolved through the cleaning of water reservoirs by the Department of Water Affairs and the municipality. MEC Mokoena visited one of the households in Siyathemba where he drank water with the members of the household.
The visit by the MEC is culminated in the official handover of a water borehole to the community of Sophia farm in Balfour. This community had been without access to portable water.
MEC Mokoena also called upon the community to continue working with the government and the municipality in dealing with issues that are affecting them.
"We appreciate the positive work that has been done by the task team that was set up to deal with the problems and we will continue to visit the municipality to assess the progress being made," said Mokoena.
Contact person:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3931
