Polokwane - Religious and traditional leaders living around the Polokwane local municipality have been given an opportunity to give their input on how the lives of residents should be improved.
Polokwane mayor Freddy Greaver kick-started the 2013/14 draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget community consultation drive across the municipality, where he met with the religious and traditional leadership around the province’s capital city.
“The purpose of the session is to give feedback to the role players. It’s also about service delivery issues raised and also about progress made with projects that are implemented in the clusters,” said Greaver.
“It is important that traditional leaders are the first in line for the consultations as they are liaising with communities. It is (also) a sign of respect... By the time we meet with the communities, our leaders have already received information and given us their input.”
Greaver said that water, roads and electricity were part of the municipality’s priorities.
He said that the IDP consultations will result in projects that will bring relief and improve the lives of the communities.
"Through our intervention and knocking on the doors of high offices, we hope that things go according to plan and for the first time in the history of the municipality, we (might) pass a budget of around R70 million for rural electrification," said Greaver.
The mayor said rural electrification remained the mandate of Eskom, but added that the municipality had sought intervention to assist with the backlog.
Regarding roads, Greaver said the third phase of the Paledi road that connects from Mankweng to Mothapo was well underway, and Silicon road, which has been an issue for the community, had been included in the draft budget and IDP.
One of the religious leaders, Philemon Dikgale, thanked the municipality for involving them in the consultation process.
“We are happy with progress made but we are still facing water challenges, which need to be prioritised this financial year,” said Dikgale. – SAnews.gov.za
