•OPERATION SUKUMA SAKHE OVERSIGHT VISIT IN ILEMBE DISTRICT

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has demanded answers and accountability from responsible officials and community leaders following the discovery of a fresh produce tunnel that is incomplete after an investment of about R8 million.

As part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe, today Premier Zikalala is leading his entire executive as they crisscross all wards in KwaMaphumulo Local Municipality in Ilembe Districtvisiting various projects and interacting with communities about the impact of government’s interventions.

During the Operation Sukuma Sakhe oversight visit the Premier came across an abandoned fresh produce tunnel project which was launched in 2020 to the tune of R7, 5 million.

The project was led by local cooperatives and supported by government who assisted with infrastructure but also mentorship and potential markets such as schools, hospitals and local enterprises. The project is strategically located not too far from the Dube Trade Port for ease of exporting to international markets but appears to have turned into a white elephant of wasted precious government investment.

It is believed the project collapsed due to internal squabbles over its ownership and control, leading to the multimillion investment being washed down the drain.

Premier Zikalala expressed concern that the project amounts to wasteful expenditure, and is testament to poor management and an absolute lack of accountability.

“This was a project of dreams, prosperity and economic transformation. Sadly today it lies idle as a burial ground of the dreams of the community.

“We want projects like this to unlock opportunities and lead to economic transformation as part of the next phase of our struggle for economic liberation. We therefore frown at what we are seeing here as it amounts to an assault on radical socio-economic transformation,” said Premier Zikalala.

“Government has done all on its part to provide support,however local internal ructions among beneficiaries have landed us here. It is correct that through OSS we are an activist government that does not receive reports in offices. We go to the ground, crossing rivers and mountains to assess the living conditions of communities and examine if government projects are making an impact in changing people’s lives,” remarked the Premier.

The Premier warned: “We are not going to throw the baby with the bath water, we have tasked the iLembe Enterprise, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Municipality to provide a comprehensive report and a turnaround because the project must still deliver on the opportunities and unleash the economic dreams of the rural people of eMambedwini in ward 9 of KwaMaphumulo,” said Premier Zikalala.

OSS is an outreach programme aiming to fast track service delivery by promoting participatory democracy withcommunities having a direct opportunity to address government as citizens and beneficiaries of government programmes.

“Through OSS we narrow the gap between government as provider of services and the citizens who are beneficiaries but who also monitor and assess government’s work. For this reason, Operation Sukuma Sakhe has been hailed internationally for promoting integrated services delivery, integrated planning and participation of communities in decision-making,” concluded Premier Zikalala.

GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT IN ILEMBE DISTRICT

Premier Zikalala earlier visited the exciting R100 million Mvutshana Water Treatments Works and Reservoirs which,by providing water, has significantly changed the lives of the rural people of KwaMaphumulo.

The plant is to be upgraded with a further R276 million which will increase by 100% its current six mega litres (6mega litres) to about 12mega litres. Members of the Executive Council also interacted with people in various wards and addressed specific community issues.

All challenges identified during Operation Sukuma Sakhe will be responded to through the ward-based war rooms which are located in communities and respond to daily issues affecting the community.

During the interaction today provincial government listened carefully while taking note as members of the communityraised issues related to housing, electricity, access roads and other concerns which government committed to respond tourgently.

Among the key strategic projects to be delivered in iLembe District especially KwaMaphumulo and Indwedwe are:

uMshwathi Bulk Water Supply Phase 4 to the tune R700 million;

uMshwathi Bulk Supply Phase 5 to cost R200milllion;

uMshwathi Bulk Phase 6 which will cost R300million.

These projects will be delivered in phases and will breathe life to the provincial priorities as announced by the Premier Zikalala during the State of the Province Address identifying water provision as a key priority in KwaZulu-Natal.

It is expected that through these projects the water woes of the people of KwaMaphumulo and Indwedwe will be a thing of the past.