MEC happy with service delivery in Mthatha

Thursday, September 8, 2011

East London - Eastern Cape Local Government and Traditional Affairs MEC, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, has expressed satisfaction with the accelerated pace of service delivery in the King Sabatha Dalindyebo Municipality (KSD) in Mthatha.

On Wednesday, Qoboshiyane he made a surprise visit to Mthatha and the surrounds as part of government's service delivery monitoring and evaluation programme.

"I am satisfied that comprehensive work is being done by the municipality to respond to the local community's service delivery needs. The rehabilitation of this city will help generate revenue for delivery of basic services, especially free basic services to the indigent," he said.

As part of his visit, Qoboshiyane made a stop at a number of projects, including pilot houses being constructed as part of the Breaking New Ground project, the municipality's healthcare center in Ngangelizwe, the N2 bridge construction project, pothole rehabilitation projects and the revitalisation of the Mthatha airport.

Qoboshiyane said provincial government had budgeted R60 million over the next three years to fix potholes in the municipality.

"In eight months' time, I don't want to see potholes in and around this city. The council has employed companies to deal with this. They must get on with the job and help our people." 

He said the multi-million rand bridge on the N2 highway will ease traffic congestion between Tsolo and Mthatha. 

"It is encouraging that even though I didn't announce my visit to these projects, I found people working to meet their deadlines," he said.

Mthatha resident Loyiso Nontshokweni said he hoped the MEC's visit would mean the pothole repair project would be accelerated.

"While I appreciate his visit, I think he should put more pressure on the municipality to fast-track the pothole projects so that we can have good roads like the rest of the towns in the country," said Nontshokweni. - BuaNews