PUBLIC Works MEC Thandiswa Marawu has lashed out at government officials who fail to communicate departmental plans with relevant political heads.
She said this led to promised service delivery not being realised.
Marawu addressed taxi drivers in Butterworth on Saturday following a protest action last Thursday which saw taxis blockading the road from outside Ibika township towards Mazeppa Bay.
Teachers and nurses were left stranded.
The protest lasted for hours with two senior public works officials held captive by the protesters.
Marawu said there was a lack of communication between her office as a political head and “officials who have access to the money”.
“When we say there is no money available or the money has been channelled to other projects this leads to protests (just like this week),” said Marawu.
The frustrated taxi operators filled the Walter Sisulu University lecture hall on the Butterworth campus on Saturday to voice their grievances about 89km of gravel road which they claim was last fixed in the 1980s.
Residents claim lives had been lost and the bad roads also affected the response of emergency services.
Speaking on behalf of the taxi operators and residents, Patrick Dubase said: “We have knocked at every door but without help.
“Your officials kept on promising they are coming to help but nothing happens.”
Marawu said there was only R4-million available and it was not enough for their road.
“We will try to work hard to make sure there are additional funds which will be made available to assist.
“But the real truth is this road will not be tarred but we can push for it to be re-gravelled,” said Marawu, promising she would send senior officials to help.
Residents welcomed Marawu’s promises.
“It is a promise from her and we believe her. They must do something about these roads and we believe this is something that will be done this year,” said Dubase.
Public Works spokesman Sisanda George said the department’s roads infrastructure backlog stood at R13-billion, and the department had developed “a hands-on approach to respond to the issues of road management”.
“We have a R13-billion backlog but have proposed for a review of the National Treasury roads funding model in order to improve our own budget allocations.
“During February the MEC scheduled a number of meetings with regions to talk about road construction and maintenance ahead of the new financial year,” said George. —
MEC blames failures on road officials
PUBLIC Works MEC Thandiswa Marawu has lashed out at government officials who fail to communicate departmental plans with relevant political heads.
She said this led to promised service delivery not being realised.
Marawu addressed taxi drivers in Butterworth on Saturday following a protest action last Thursday which saw taxis blockading the road from outside Ibika township towards Mazeppa Bay.
Teachers and nurses were left stranded.
The protest lasted for hours with two senior public works officials held captive by the protesters.
Marawu said there was a lack of communication between her office as a political head and “officials who have access to the money”.
“When we say there is no money available or the money has been channelled to other projects this leads to protests (just like this week),” said Marawu.
The frustrated taxi operators filled the Walter Sisulu University lecture hall on the Butterworth campus on Saturday to voice their grievances about 89km of gravel road which they claim was last fixed in the 1980s.
Residents claim lives had been lost and the bad roads also affected the response of emergency services.
Speaking on behalf of the taxi operators and residents, Patrick Dubase said: “We have knocked at every door but without help.
“Your officials kept on promising they are coming to help but nothing happens.”
Marawu said there was only R4-million available and it was not enough for their road.
“We will try to work hard to make sure there are additional funds which will be made available to assist.
“But the real truth is this road will not be tarred but we can push for it to be re-gravelled,” said Marawu, promising she would send senior officials to help.
Residents welcomed Marawu’s promises.
“It is a promise from her and we believe her. They must do something about these roads and we believe this is something that will be done this year,” said Dubase.
Public Works spokesman Sisanda George said the department’s roads infrastructure backlog stood at R13-billion, and the department had developed “a hands-on approach to respond to the issues of road management”.
“We have a R13-billion backlog but have proposed for a review of the National Treasury roads funding model in order to improve our own budget allocations.
“During February the MEC scheduled a number of meetings with regions to talk about road construction and maintenance ahead of the new financial year,” said George. —
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