Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Roads Welcomes Progress Registered on Varying Roads in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.

The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management and Public Works and Roads led by Hon Mmoloki Cwaile welcomed the report on specified roads presented by officials from the Department of Public Works and noted progress unfolding with the work the department is doing to speed up service delivery.

This was during an oversight meeting that the committee held with officials from the Department of Public Works and Roads as part of the Oversight week program that is currently taking place at various projects in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

The purpose of the program is to strengthen oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government.

The committee noted and appreciated assessed progress on varying roads including Road P3/4 (N12) on special maintenance of its sections between Matlosana Mall and Klerksdorp Taxi Rank; and Road P137/1 from N12 to Orkney for rehabilitation of road and a bridge.

The scope of work for ROAD P137/1 includes provision of accommodation for traffic services, demolition of bridge 2128, relocation of services including existing fill up to natural ground level and stockpiling, construction of new road and at-grade intersection along the old road alignment, and construction of a two-way temporary 8meter width deviation path. Other existing services are ESKOM two high voltage power lines, Dark Fibre Africa for telecommunications and a live steel pipeline of Harmony Gold Company.

Amongst others, the committee also noted the appointment of the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) by the provincial department as the implementing agency for the sections in the towns of Wolmaransstad, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom given its economic importance. The project started on 11 April 2022 at the cost of R23 million and the work was completed by SANRAL.
The committee also urged the department to include the investigations of the sinkhole in Hartebeesfontein for sinkhole repairs and intersection improvement.

“We welcome the report and noted progress unfolding and appreciate the work the department is doing to speed up service delivery,
“We urge the department to deal with servitude property law related matters for them to successfully acquire the servitude rights in relation with ESKOM, and other parties’ properties. We also need to establish if those other parties are not willing to participate in carrying the costs to mitigate high costs of rolling out their projects,” said Hon Cwaile.

Hon Cwaile emphasised the need for the department to communicate effectively with the public and constituencies about their plans, progress and challenges on all projects of the department as they arise.
“We seek the department to ensure that the locals draw benefit and that the department must make effort to empower the locals through the implementation of the infrastructure projects,” said Hon Cwaile.

The committee made amongst other recommendations that the department should facilitate local content threshold on bid specifications that will help to increase benefits for the locals. The new Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) B.U.I.L.D programme requirements must be adhered to in the context of National Treasury Regulatory Framework on Supply Chain Management. The CIDB Act empowers the CIDB to set up a national fund to which construction projects must contribute financially to construction industry development through the B.U.I.L.D. Programme. Construction projects of grade 7 and above must contribute to the B.U.I.L.D Fund, a percentage of their value, up to R2m.

Members of the committee will continue to conduct site visits both planned and unannounced to varying projects of the department and to ascertain if work is being done properly and effectively; and where necessary to investigate any irregularity and matters of non-compliance.

Ends.

Issued by: North West Provincial Legislature: Media & Communications Unit on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Roads, Community Safety and Transport Management, Hon Mmoloki Cwaile