The Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism chaired by Hon. Mpho Khunou conducted an oversight

The Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism chaired by Hon. Mpho Khunou conducted an oversight on beneficiaries of the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism over the empowerment fund programme for business start-ups and small business enterprises through provision of equipment and machinery and Orkney Hotel School.

This forms part of the oversight week program of the Legislature in Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District. The program is aimed at strengthening oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government. During the program, Members of the Provincial Legislature will interact with different provincial departments and their MECs; Mayors; Accounting Officers; and members of the Municipal Public Accounts Committees. Different Portfolio Committees will conduct oversight visits to various projects in the district to check their status quo and challenges therein.

Mookudi Investments (Pty) Ltd
The business operates in the landscaping and garden maintenance industry and it a black male-owned business under the ownership of Mr. Dingaan Mookudi and based in Tswelelang, Wolmarastad. It also focuses on civil engineering works, electrical and plumbing, landscaping and site preparation – trimming grass, weeds, and bushes around construction sites or landscaped areas. The department funded the enterprise with equipment valued at R199 981,50 which include amongst others, industrial demolition breaker, anti-vibration system, industrial concrete vibration, diesel generator, cordless drill set and cordless paint mixer. The department also provided the business with financial management, bookkeeping and marketing material through SEDA.

The enterprise is currently renting out machinery to a contractor working on a construction site due to various challenges of transportation for delivery of hired equipment to clients and low business opportunities.
Hon. Khunou said small business are facing serious challenges of sustainability and viability due to socio-economic problems and lack of proper business management skills. “The business together with others that we’ve visited require proper incubation hub per district that will assist them to grow and become commercial businesses in the future. We require financial performance information and real plan that will ensure that these businesses are competitive and contribute to the broader economic participation on the mainstream economy. We also need to ensure that they meet all compliance and operational matters of any business and other business strategies,” said Hon. Khunou.

The Committee also held a meeting with the representatives of the department at Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District municipal offices regarding the status quo of dilapidated Orkney Hotel School. The Committee rejected the report submitted by the department as it did not have comprehensive information on the hotel school’s renovations and security company that was deployed at the dilapidated building as well as financial information.

Hon. Khunou said the Committee is disappointed that the department had sent junior officials with a document that was not detailed and without any financial information. “There are serious challenges regarding the project as the building is now vandalized and in ruins yet the department chose to send an unfinished report without any financials and all the information required. We will call the department to account on the status of the hotel school and how things have transpired at the project” said Hon. Khunou.

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