The North West Province of South Africa is facing scrutiny over inadequate management of infrastructure development projects. The situation has become so dire that permanent members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) had to air their disappointments after attending a meeting to receive updates on provincial and municipal infrastructure projects at Ngaka Modiri Molema Council. The following sections will delve into the issues, challenges, and recommendations to remedy the situation.
Challenges Faced by the Province
The NCOP’s Provincial Week programme enables permanent delegates to assess the progress of service delivery within their provinces. This year’s theme is “Building Viable Provincial and Municipal Infrastructure for Effective Delivery of Services to Communities.” The Acting Premier, Nono Maloyi, revealed that the province’s infrastructure is aging and ailing, and financial difficulties continue to plague the entire region.
Other challenges facing the province include incomplete and unfunded infrastructure projects, a high vacancy rate in critical positions, disputes among traditional leaders, a staggering 53.6% unemployment rate, and threats from construction mafias and illegal miners known as Zama Zamas.
Incomplete and Unfunded Projects
During the NCOP meeting, the delegation discovered that certain projects had received funding but had never commenced. Blacklisted service providers continued to be awarded projects, while criminal cases concerning unlawful and incomplete tenders remained pending with the Special Investigative Unit and other law enforcement agencies.
One of the flagship housing projects, N12, aimed at addressing approximately 38,500 housing backlogs, but it stalled due to contractual issues. The Department of Human Settlements has since taken over the implementation of 1667 top structures from the Matlosana Local Municipality. On the other hand, the N14 housing development in Touvleg was designed to deliver 360 housing units but also stalled due to financial challenges faced by the contractor and the location of some sites on a wetland.
The Delegation’s Concerns
The delegation expressed deep concern over the incompletion of projects within the required timelines. They sought clarity on the final handover of the N14 project and expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of blacklisting and consequence management for contractors who failed to meet their contractual obligations. Furthermore, they bemoaned the slow progress of law enforcement agencies in initiating criminal prosecution in cases where corrupt activities were discovered and reported within projects.
Recommendations
To address these issues, the delegation urged the North West Department of Human Settlements to implement plans ensuring that appointed contractors complete projects within stipulated timelines and improve the vetting system for contractors. The NCOP delegation leader in North West Province, Eric Landsman, requested an updated report on the N14 and N12 projects’ completion and handover dates by 30th September 2023, with the projects concluded by January 2024.
In conclusion, it is apparent that the North West province’s infrastructure development management requires significant improvements. By addressing the challenges and implementing the delegation’s recommendations, the province can hope to provide better services and socio-economic infrastructure to its communities in the future.
