National Council of Provinces Chairperson, Mr Amos Masondo, is holding numerous engagements with his constituency in Soweto this week to identify areas that are challenging residents of that township.
Yesterday, Mr Masondo held meetings and conducted a walk-about in four industrial parks to engage with the business owners in the parks about the service delivery issues that are posing a challenge to the blossoming of their businesses. The four industrial parks visited are in eMndeni, Dobsonville, White City and Orlando East.
Some of the challenges highlighted by the entrepreneurs includes, amongst others: the abrupt cutting of electricity supply to the parks which runs off for weeks on end without any explanation, unresolved issues with the zoning of the parks which puts them in contravention of municipal laws, security concerns as there are numerous break-ins at the parks, issues with sanitation as there are not enough ablution facilities.
The businesses operating from the industrial parks includes: tombstone designers, motor-body works, motor mechanics, recycling establishments and aluminium window manufacturers to mention just a few.
“We do not claim to have solutions for all problems but we are here to consider some of the solutions that can be put forward to address the challenges facing the entrepreneurs who are operating in these industrial parks,” said Chairperson Masondo.
“But we also came here to deliver a message that we should work together to bridge the gap between Parliament and the residents through the Constituency Office,” he said.
One of the business people attending the engagements told the Chairperson that they were happy that he visited and engaged with them, but also cautioned him that they have “been meeting people and promises made but nothing has come of that.”
Chairperson Masondo explained the purpose of the engagement as part of his constituency work which is aimed at collaboration between Parliament and residents to solve challenges facing various communities.
“Constituency Offices are an attempt by Parliament to bring Parliament closer to the people. Parliament is about accountability and oversight. So we believe that Parliament working alone and in isolation will not be able to solve the problem. Government, Parliament, civil society organisations including business people must find a formula and find a way of working together in an ongoing way so that we can address the issues,” he said.
Other engagements that the Chairperson have in the pipeline this month include a meeting with Eskom on the issues around electricity challenges in Soweto and possible solutions; a summit to review safety in the constituency and a Women and Youth summit on the township economic development.
Source: Parliament of South Africa