The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has urged all stakeholders in KwaZulu-Natal to implement outstanding commitments made during the Taking Parliament to the People programme which took place in Nquthu in 2011.
Acknowledging significant progress made in the uMzinyathi District in addressing issues raised two years ago, the NCOP has called for more action from both local and provincial government. This week, Members of the NCOP conducted site visits to view achievements in the implementation of service delivery promises to communities.
During the Taking Parliament to the People programme in 2011 local municipalities in the uMzinyathi District were identified as the poorest and least developed municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. The week-long programme saw the NCOP conducting site visits in Nquthu, uMsinga, uMvoti and eNdumeni Local Municipalities to assess measures taken to accelerate service delivery.
Leader of the delegation Mr Raseriti Tau said: “The progress made shows that while today is better than yesterday, tomorrow can be even better. However, there are still some outstanding issues and we will continue working towards ensuring that commitments made are implemented by all stakeholders concerned.”
Among the sites at which the NCOP was satisfied with on-going progress were the Kranskop Clinic, which now has adequate storage for medication, more nursing personnel and more frequent visits by doctors.
Areas that showed delayed progress for the delegation, included the Mkhuzangwe Community Property Association where there are continued management challenges that remain unresolved and the Nogojwa Combined Primary School, where facilities for learners at the school were less than satisfactory and the school was yet to be registered with the Department of Education.
Additional concerns for the delegation, included the non-compliance with commitments to deal with the eradication of slums in the Coloured Village that had not been honoured.
The NCOP’s Taking Parliament to the People programme was established in 2002 to enhance public education and public participation, as a means of strengthening our democracy. The programme is based on the premise that the NCOP is crucial to overseeing cooperative government.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Leader of the NCOP Delegation Mr Raseriti Tau, please contact:
Mlindi Mpindi
Cell: 073 197 1315
Tel: 021 403 2340
E-mail: mmpindi@parliament.gov.za
