North West Legislature Committee on Public Works and Roads to engage department on findings of the Tlapeng to Manthe Road oversight
On Tuesday, 17 May 2016, the North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Public Works, Roads, Transport and Community Safety has resolved to call the department of Public Works MEC, Madoda Sambatha and the department’s technical team to engage them on the Committee’s findings of the road inspections on road P25/1 from Tlapeng to Manthe Village.
This came after the committee went on an oversight visit to inspect the two roads as part of “O re bone re go bone” programme of the Legislature which literally means “You see us and we see you”, aimed at taking legislature to the people to strengthen oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government.
According to a report given to the Committee by Mr Kenneth Gill, a Chief Director for District Operations at Public Works, construction of this road started on the 2 December 2013 with a budget of R39 million and it ended on the 15 March 2014 due to insufficient funds. Mr Gill said the department was aware that the budget was insufficient and would not be able to cover total construction that is why they opted for fog spraying, pothole patching and resealing of the road.
During the oversight, the Committee discovered that the road between Manthe Village and Tlapeng, is full of potholes, it is not conducive for motorists to drive on it as a result motorists drive on the unpaved side road to avoid the potholes. The second part of the road from Tlapeng to the T-junction, is better but it still does not comply with road regulations as there is no road furniture.
Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Wendy Matsemela, said the Committee opted to call the MEC Sambatha with the technical team from the department to inform him of the Committee’s findings and recommendations.
“ We have to engage on what we found on this road, on whether they are doing oversight into their projects so that they can check on whether what the contractor is doing is according to the specifics of the tender.
“We again have to tackle the issue of road furniture as the road does not have. Lives have been lost on this road, these problems have to be taken seriously,” said Hon. Matsemela.
An urgent meeting will be arranged with MEC Sambatha and the department to engage on the findings.
Enquiries:
Namhla Luhabe
Tell: 018 392 7000
Cell: 079 527 0628
E-mail: namhla@nwpl.org.za
