By
Hon H Motala MPL
KZN Legislature
I want to thank the Inkatha Freedom Party for allowing me the opportunity to participate in this debate.
Public Works entails the government involved in the construction and development of facilities that are much needed by the public and to refurbish any that may need to be. I must say it is a very interesting portfolio that one can serve on as it allows one to truly appreciate the two-fold of the labour that goes into this department. Not only of the constituency and development of government buildings but also the significance of creating employment with the EPWP project. We visited Richmond with the Premier, Hon. Senzo Mchunu and the MEC, Hon Ravi Pillay, on an oversight committee meeting and gotten first hand insight the daily life of farmers trying to sustain their families which is common amongst many residents.
But as a country to have achieved such great strides we have to hang our heads with degradation imprinted on South Africa due to continuous fraudulent behaviour of those in power. Every year we have our annual budget debates with promises of a better year ahead and even longer periods attached for these promises to be achieved. They never are fully accomplished.
Honourable Chairman, I have known the M.E.C of Public Works, Hon. RR Pillay for the most part of my life and can safely state that I grew up in front of him. He is Umkhaya wami, he is a man of integrity, honesty and someone I hold in esteem.
But it disheartens me that the Public Works construction and the much respected Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) has become dominated by mafias who feed like parasites off the destitute. I was aghast when I recently read a copy of the Daily News, on the horrendous exploitation being carried about by entrusted members. In recent events the EPWP has been acknowledged not for the positivity of trying to establish 8 million jobs to the unemployed, but because it is diseased by nepotism. Residents of Burlington, Shallcross have been on the payroll of subsidisation from the government and yet many have not been engaged in the stated appointment as proclaimed.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I wonder how this finding will be accepted. Many so called employees have been contracted since December 2014 and have never worked for the pay cheques they so happily secure. The EPWP outlays job availability via the ward committee members or councillors and this has proven to be a grave misconduct of power. This procedure is a collapse of what the initial outline was, a means of empowering the impoverished. We have to look at other strategies to ensure these duties are assigned to willing citizens and employment possibly through the city’s human resource department.
Furthermore, humiliation brought onto the EPWP is the soliciting of monies from councillors for assisting these residents with employment. Many have a salary of R2000 and are requested to relinquish half that to the committee member for the illegally acquired jobs set up. We need to conduct an informative investigation and a “name and shame” of these offensive members.
It seems very difficult to control corruption in this department but it is not impossible. Let us take a vow to create an atmosphere free from corruption. That will be our highest achievement as human beings and leaders.
Another issue we face is our poor health facilities. Despite phenomenal development and technical growth, the healthcare facilities in some areas are a far cry from what are expected. While we house some swanky private hospitals, the government healthcare centres are mostly in a deplorable condition.
Maintenance is a key factor in keeping these buildings on par. The staff strength of the maintenance departments is inadequate and they are inexperienced on hospital maintenance management. As technology changes with regard to hospitals, so do maintenance requirements.
Another issue is on a committee visit to Richmond in 2014, there was a development that was said to be under construction that would hold a day-care, bakery etc. and play a pivotal role for the unemployed. On a recent EPWP visit, we had passed the site only to see that no further development had occurred.
The budget has increased R55,63 million for 2014/2015 amounting to R1,370 454 billion however the department has set a precedence of under spending: R 219,374 million in 2010/2011; R 30,702 million in 2011/12; R 219,777 million in 2012/2013 and R 43,478 million in 2013/2014 were the amounts below the budget allocated. This year the Public Works department received two amounts due to budgets not being utilised as stated. The amounts are R9,934 million assigned to Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA) and R482 000 for the Richmond Development Program in 2015/2016. Many developments have been left stagnant which hinders us from propelling into growth. It is very easy for the government to throw out numbers to get an affiliation from members but if we are not ensuring the usage of these annual budgets, how could we sit here in agreement fully knowing that the budget is being given with no desire to accomplish tasks set. There needs to be a political will to serve.
The Luwamba Wellness Centre has R15 million that had been put on hold and carried over to the 2015/2016 budget for much needed pipeline works. This building serves as a place of healthcare services for those in the rural areas.
Why has government not shown initiative and forged ahead as alleged yearly? One can’t simply blame unwilling community members that refuse to work for development coming to a halt; are we not resourceful?
In 21 years of democracy, we have achieved a lot, could have achieved more and still a lot more to achieve. I trust that with the guidance from the MEC and together with the admirable chairperson Hon Frazer we can work hand in glove to go forward.
I thank you.
Contact:
Mr Hassan Motala, 078 403 6704
