The Select Committee on Social Services is impressed with progress made towards completing the housing project in Marikana, North West. The Committee is on a joint weeklong oversight visit to North West and Gauteng to assess progress on service delivery.
The Committee commends the Department of Human Settlements on the inspiring Phase 1 of the housing project in Marikana Extension 02. The Committee is impressed with the workmanship and has called for the project to be replicated in future projects across the country.
“As the Committee, we are elated with the size as well as attention to detail we have witnessed. We are of the view that the houses will go a long way in restoring dignity of South Africans who have endured long suffering in sub-standard temporary structures,” said Ms Cathy Dlamini, the Chairperson of the Select Committee of Social Services and leader of the delegation.
While the Committee is impressed, it has cautioned against any manipulation of the list process. “We are unwavering in our view that every recipient should receive a house purely based on merit and not on the basis of relation or acquaintance to people in positions of authority,” Ms Dlamini emphasised.
Furthermore, while the Committee acknowledged the challenges that affected the delivery of the project on time. The Committees urged the department to ensure that the October deadline was met. “All the more than 500 rental as well as Breaking New Ground units must be occupied by December,” Ms Dlamini said.
The Committee further commended mining companies that have contributed in one way or the other to ensure the projects succeeded. The Committees is of the view that it was only through a collaborative effort between government and the private sector that the project to revitalise mining towns would be a success.
Meanwhile, the Select Committee on Education and Recreation has welcomed the creation of teacher development centres in the North West. The Committee is cognisant of the need for teachers to be re-skilled from time to time and view these centres as central in improving the quality of teaching and learning.
The Committee has nonetheless cautioned against opening many centres despite financial constraints. Proper planning should ensure that the little financial resource the department currently has makes maximum impact.
The Committee was further informed that both the Departments of Education and Health were under administration and resolved to invite both departments to Parliament to brief the Committee on reasons that led to their departments being placed under administration. This briefing will be done in collaboration with the respective Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committees.
The delegation will today visit Mogwase 2010 FIFA Legacy Programme to assess the impact of the projects on the local community.
Enquiries:
Malatswa Evans Molepo
Tel: (021) 403-8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
