The Standing Committee on Legislative Review and Implementation of House Resolutions

The Standing Committee on Legislative Review and Implementation of House Resolutions chaired by Chairperson of Committees, Hon. Tebogo Modise presided over the processing of the petitions from Dr. Kenneth Kanda District at Matlosana Banquet Hall in Klerksdorp.
The following petitions were processed.

1) Petition 000241
Community complaint about the conduct of Ward 4 Councilor in Alabama, Klerksdorp on lack of service delivery including sewer spillages and double allocation of RDP Houses stands
The representative of the petitioners and community, Mr. Tsholofelo Lekabe informed the Committee that as a concerned group, they wrote a petition regarding the conduct of the Ward 4 Councillor, Mr. Barend Stafford on matters of service delivery which include continuous sewer spillages, double allocation of stands for RDP houses, lack of community meetings to address various community issues and projects within the community. According to Mr. Lekabe, the Ward Councillor only calls meetings in certain sections of the ward and does not use a central venue where there can be equal representation of all community members. “We tried engaging him on the local school construction project and other matters to no help as he threatens us and often sends local gangs to harass us if we try to have our separate meetings to address our service delivery issues. We have also tried to engage Matlosana Local Municipality and other organs of state regarding him and the ward committee’s conduct to no help,” said Mr. Lekabe.
The Speaker of the Council, Cllr. Stella Mondlane and Mayor, Cllr. Fekile Mahlope confirmed that a community meeting was held where the Ward Councillor promised to help. Mayor Mahlope said the council is addressing the service delivery issues at the ward which include sewer spillages, double allocation of stands and electrification of certain portions of the ward. “They have a very serious historical challenge of sewer spillages as the system cannot accommodate growing population and matter of double allocation of stands that is being resolved. We will investigate the conduct of the Ward Councillor and report back to the Committee,” said Cllr. Mahlope.
Hon. Modise said the municipality should develop a clear plan with timelines on how it will resolve the concerns raised including conduct of the councillor. “The report must be provided within 7 working days,” said Hon. Modise.

2) Petition 000234
Request for intervention regarding the outstanding payment as subcontractor of Palesa and Associates appointed by Department of Human Settlement
The petitioner, Mr. Mpho Morake from Wolmaransstad wrote the petition requesting intervention about outstanding payment as a subcontractor on a bulk services project in 2018 where his company was appointed by main contractor, Palesa and Associates by Department of Human Settlements.
He said several payments where made by the main contractor but there are outstanding payments that were never processed as per contract agreement. “We have tried numerous times to engage the main contractor and also asked the intervention of the department to no help. I’ve lost everything as an emerging subcontractor as I could not pay my debts due to lack of money. The department has failed me as they claimed that the matter is between my company and the main contractor,” said Mr. Morake.
A departmental representative, Mr. Neo Mokoma said during the last intervention meeting to resolve the issue, the two companies couldn’t agree on the amount and recommended for the subcontractor to take the matter to court.

Hon. Modise said the department should’ve ensured that all the subcontractors are paid after the completion of the project. “The department is abusing our people as it is failing our emerging businesses by not ensuring that they are paid. They should’ve used the expenditure reports to verify that these poor people are paid and shouldn’t leave them to use their last cents to fight these established companies to court.
“The same contractor continues to receive more projects when these subcontractors have not paid since 2018 which is shocking and disheartening,” said Hon. Modise.
She said the department should submit a report on all interventions made and mitigation strategies to ensure subcontractors are paid including Mr. Morake.

3) Petition 000212
Request for Intervention regarding Taxis that were impounded by then Tlokwe Local Municipality (now JB Marks Local Municipality) for wrongful parking in 2004
A representative of the petitioners, Mr. Simon Maimane Mokobane, informed the Committee that in 2004, their taxis where impounded by traffic officials of the then Tlokwe Local Municipality in conjunction with members of the South African Police Service for wrongful parking in Potchefstroom. After several engagements with then Mayor and SAPS, it was agreed that the taxis will be returned but the matter has not been implemented. “The then Mayor and Provincial Police Commissioner Mpempe agreed to release our taxis as they were taken to police impound store, but nothing has happened. We also asked for charges against officials who conducted the impound and if it wrongful parking but never received anything.

“We have lost an income of nine (9) taxis for over 21 years and government has failed as we’ve been taken from pillar to post to no help,” said Mr. Mokobane.
Member of the Mayoral Council, Cllr. Mosa Mkhabela said the municipality will investigate the matter and report to the Committee.
Hon. Modise will call all relevant officials including the then Mayor, Municipal Manager and Police Commissioner to account on the matter.

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