This, as the Provincial Legislature is expected to embark on a week-long oversight visit to different regions. 

Local and district municipalities, as well as Special Economic Zones (SEZs), are amongst those expected to be inspected. The much-anticipated oversight visit will kick off on Monday in Kuruman where the Provincial Legislature is expected to engage with the Joe Morolong Local Municipality. The municipality made news earlier this year when hundreds of families were displaced following heavy rain. The rain left a trail of destruction with houses and roads badly affected. Opposition parties within the Provincial Legislature have since called on the provincial government to address infrastructure challenges within the municipality, including the lack of sustainable water supply.

The region, which falls under the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, is also amongst those plagued by a high unemployment rate. According to Stats South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QFLS), the unemployment rate has increased to 32.6% between January and March 2021. It indicates that more than 7.2 million South Africans are officially unemployed. Whilst the majority are in the Eastern Cape, unemployment in the Northern Cape currently stands at 23.4 %.

The legislature has meanwhile taken to its social media pages to confirm the week-long oversight visits are to enforce accountability in municipalities and other spheres of government.

OFM News