MEDIA STATEMENT: MPUMALANGA NCOP DELEGATION CONDUCTS OVERSIGHT ON ROAD UPGRADE PROJECTS IN NKANGALA DISTRICT

Mpumalanga permanent delegates to the NCOP spent the second day of their Provincial Week programme conducting oversight to key road infrastructure projects including the infamous Moloto Road (R573), in the Nkangala District Municipality.

The delegation jointly led by the Mpumalanga Provincial Whip in the NCOP, Ms Ethel Nkosi, and the House Chairperson for Committees and Oversight Mr Jomo Nyambi began the day with a visit to the construction site of the multi-million-rand Moloto Road where they received progress reports from the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and the MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport Mr Mandla Ndlovu.

The NCOP delegates were satisfied with reports that the project was within deadline for the April next year finishing dates. The delegation also noted that the road upgrade will reduce the number of fatalities on the road that connects Pretoria, Mpumalanga and Limpopo and has become notorious for accidents that claim high number of lives.

The delegation said it will follow up on the project to ensure that it was finished on time without any period extension and additional costs. It also said the fatalities that have been happening on the Moloto Road must be a thing of the past when the upgrades are completed.

The delegation also visited another project on the Rehabilitation of Coal Haulage Road net work and noted the progress with a commitment to monitor the progress to ensure the project was successfully finalised.

Provincial officials and SANRAL told the delegation that the roads in the province were facing huge pressure from trucks that transport coal from the mines especially in the coal-rich Nkangala region. Some trucks deliberately overloaded and avoided the weigh bridges by traveling at times when law enforcement officers were not on the road.

The Provincial Week is one of the initiatives that the NCOP initiated in order to enhance oversight over provincial and local governments and directly engage local communities on challenges of service delivery.

It also provides an opportunity for the NCOP and the provincial legislatures to jointly engage with citizens on challenges they experience and provide an opportunity to receive reports from government departments and municipalities on progress made regarding service delivery.

Tomorrow the delegation will conduct oversight to water and sanitation projects in Chief Albert Luthuli and Msukaligwa local municipalities in the Gert Sibande District Municipality.

Source: Parliament of South Africa