Media Statement

25 January 2023

JOINT OVERSIGHT EXERCISE BY KZN AND GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Public Works Portfolio Committee together with the Gauteng Legislature’s Infrastructure Development and Property Management Portfolio Committee this week visited King Dinuzulu Hospital in Durban and Tongaat Special School to conduct oversight as mandated by the constitution.

The Gauteng Legislature MPLs were in KwaZulu-Natal as part of the Inter-Provincial Legislature visit to exchange best practices on strengthening oversight and public participation within the legislative sector.

On Tuesday Gauteng MPLs joined KZN Legislature’s Public Works Portfolio Committee in Ixopo’s Peace Initiative Hall where the Public Works Committee had a Stakeholders Engagement with the people of Harry Gwala District.

Stakeholders Engagement is a legislature initiative which seeks to enable communities to actively participate in the governance of the province and to influence how resources are allocated and prioritised.

Officials from the Department of Public Works also attended the meeting and were able to report on the department’s projects in the province and also in the Harry Gwala District.

Dozens of people including councillors, traditional leaders, contractors and members of the community attended the stakeholders’ engagement.

During the visit to King Dinuzulu Hospital Public Works Department officials reported on frustrations experienced by the department as a result of business forums which disrupt developmental projects demanding to be appointed as service providers.

Honourable Mpho Modise, whp chairs Gauteng Legislature’s Infrastructure Development and Property Management Portfolio Committee, said this problem is not only experienced in KZN but is also prevalent in Gauteng.

“The painful thing about this is that these forums sometimes do not have the required skills and once they are given an opportunity to sub-contract, they sell that to a service provider who has required skills and attributes,” said Modise.

The two committees then proceeded to Tongaat Special School which has been rebuilt to do the walk-about and inspect the progress on the construction of the school.

Ends

SCHOOL FUNCTIONALITY AND MONITORING PROGRAMME

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker Honourable Nontembeko Boyce has postponed the Schools Functionality Monitoring Programme which was scheduled to take place between 25-27 January 2023 until further notice.