According to political parties in the North West Legislature, the department has for years failed to address concerns regarding the poor state of roads in the province. 

The ANC, EFF, and DA in the Legislature say the time has come for the department to improve its annual performance. Whilst the ANC’s Job Dliso applauded the department for infrastructure projects underway despite what he views as budget cuts, the EFF’s Lebogang Xaba lambasted the department for allocating millions towards the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) without creating any sustainable jobs.

He told Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) that the level of unemployment in the province is too high for the department to keep pumping money into EPWP jobs without working on measures to create employment and business opportunities.

Weighing in on the R3.5 billion budget tabled before the House on Tuesday, MPL Erns Kleynhans and Gavin Edwards sharply raised concerns over corruption, cadre deployment, maladministration, and a lack of consequence management for those implicated.

Edwards told the House that the North West Department of Public Works and Roads is further riddled with high irregular expenditure and unlawful tenders awarded to the politically connected.

OFM News