Lekwa Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has made strides in rehabilitating infrastructure affected by last year’s floods, despite recognitions by an oversight committee that further improvements are needed.
According to Parliament of South Africa, the municipality provided a progress report on the restoration efforts, which the committee, co-chaired by Mr. Jomo Nyambi, House Chairperson for Committees and Oversight at the National Council of Provinces, evaluated through site visits. The inspection followed briefings from the municipal authorities, including updates on the victim support provided by Ms. Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, the provincial MEC for Social Development.
The committee observed that flood victims had moved out of temporary shelters and returned to their homes. However, Mr. Nyambi expressed concerns over the financial execution of the relief efforts, noting that only R2.1 million of the allocated R6 million had been used.
Mr. Nyambi led the delegation amidst leadership changes in the municipality, with oversight activities occurring shortly after the mayor was ousted through a vote of no confidence. The municipal council Speaker and the municipal manager represented the local authority during the committee’s visit.
Beyond local efforts, the committee’s mandate encompassed nationwide assessments, with further plans to engage with the Auditor-General regarding the quality of interventions before finalizing their report. Mr. Nyambi highlighted the ongoing commitment of parliamentary committees to monitor the situation closely, even as the local government gears up for legacy reporting ahead of general elections.
The committee also expressed interest in the Lekwa Local Municipality’s response to a recent court judgment finding it responsible for polluting the Vaal River by discharging raw sewage. With the municipality having received R350 million from the national Department of Water and Sanitation to address this issue, the committee awaits the implementation of the corrective measures ordered by the court.
Concluding their current inquiries, the committee is set to review a comprehensive progress report on provincial interventions from the MEC of Cogta, Mr. Mandla Msibi, and Premier Ms. Refiloe Mtsweni. Additionally, oversight visits to the Mbombela Local Municipality sites affected by floods are on the committee’s agenda.