Admin
21 Aug, 2020
UDM helps 72 tenants threatened with legal action by Eastern Cape Public Works
Honourable Premier Mabuyane IMMORAL EVICTIONS: MISTREATMENT OF ORDINARY SOUTH AFRICANS BY THE EASTERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS WHICH ADMINISTERS PROPERTIES IN WHICH THEY RESIDE (MTHATHA) 1. I was recently approached by a anxious group of persons who have organised themselves under the banner of the Democratic Housing Tenants Association (DHTA) which consists of 72 tenants, all of whom reside in properties, in Mthatha, administered by the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC). 2. I understand that many of the aforementioned tenants have occupied these properties for a minimum of ten years, and up to 35 years in some cases. It is alleged that, since 1994, these buildings have not been maintained by the DPWI/ECDC, aside from the repairs the tenants had done at their own expense. By all accounts this seems to be true. 3. Numerous meetings with the DPWI, as far back as 2001, have apparently taken place where discussions were held regarding the opportunity for the tenants to purchase the houses they have been occupying (and paying rent for) for so many years. Seemingly, despite various DPWI commitments, none of the problems were addressed. 4. I have been informed that discussions around the purchasing of these properties with your special advisor, Mr Zandisile Qupe, on 30 June 2019, who undertook to find speedy resolution to the matter, was for naught as these tenants out of the blue received notices of motion of eviction proceedings in early July 2020. Worse still is that this unnecessary and unconscionable legal action is happening at a time of so much insecurity and fear due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 5. DHTA requested a meeting with your Public Works MEC, Mr Babalo Madikizela, which took place on 25 June 2020. Apparently, although departmental officials had rightfully been present, for some inexplicable reason, the African National Congress (ANC) OR Tambo Regional Secretary and members of the ANC Youth League, were also in attendance and the objections to their presence were ignored. Apparently, no resolution had been found at the end of that meeting and Public Works MEC Madikizela had also instructed the departmental officials to engage with DHTA within two weeks of that meeting, which has to date not occurred. 6. This story is rife with allegations of years’ long mistreatment of South Africans at the hand of the Eastern Cape government, whilst this community did their utmost to find a mutually beneficial recourse in the matter. The fact that it now also seems to be laced with politics is totally unacceptable and should be investigated. 7. I therefore now propose that you immediately involve the national Department of Public Works in the matter to assure some degree of impartiality and lack of prejudice towards ordinary South Africans in a time where their lives are already adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. 8. I attach the letter I received from the complainants for your assistance and I look forward to your speedy response, as this is an urgent matter due to the threat of legal action. Yours sincerely Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP President of the United Democratic Movement Copied to: Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Ms P De Lille The Democratic Housing Tenants Association
Admin
20 Aug, 2019
Eastern Cape Legislature: Mr Bongani Mahlati, MPL’s contribution the Vote on Public Works
Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker Honourable Premier and members of the executive Honourable Members of the Legislature Officials present here Distinguish Guests And visitors at the gallery be greeted in Jesus naame Madam Speaker the United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the report, however Honourable Speaker, government must find a comprehensive approach on how to improve and monitor the irregular expenditure that has been increasing over the past years in this department. I am concerned about how this has happened whereas there is a committee that was monitoring the work of the department. Why this matter had been escalated for a long time, and nothing drastically has happened. We are convinced, as the UDM, that something drastically must happen, and government must take steps against those people affected and come up with a clear plan and strategies of how to curb this challenge. “Noko, noko, ingathi kukhona okutshaya amanzi la” Madam Speaker, the speech of the MEC mentions of the recruitment and training of only a hundred learners in National Youth Service. Taking the level of unemployment, the shortage of skilled youth in the Eastern Cape, I think this is a drop in the ocean. I am of the view that it also needs monitoring since the African National Congress has the history of employing their card carrier members. I don’t think this hundred will be even enough for my ward, let alone a region. Remember our youth is our future, we need to invest more to them. The UDM condemns the neglect of government properties. Most government buildings are dilapidated, unsafe and unfit for use thus putting our people at risk. The department must come up with the plan and strategies of how are they will maintain the standard of our buildings. The department must decrease in utilising private companies and nayo leyo inento eshaya amanzi apha kubasebenzi bedepartment. The UDM supports the budget. I thank you
Admin
12 May, 2017
ANC hypocrisy too thick to swallow; Molefe “re-redeployment”
If it was not for the serious implications of the ruling party deployment agency; one might be tempted to laugh at the situation around the reinstatement of Mr Brian Molefe as the Eskom Chief Executive (CE). Exasperated opinions by, or on, Mr Molefe, Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Browne, the ruling party and the Eskom Board falls from the sky like hail stones on a tin roof. According to the ruling party, Mr Molefe’s reinstatement “…is reckless and feeds into the perception that the government is lacklustre in dealing with corruption…”. What a loaded phrase and how ironic from whence it came given the South Africa post-cabinet reshuffle. The ruling party, in an official statement, said that it “… will seek an engagement with Comrade Lynne Browne, the Minister of Public Enterprises, under whose authority Eskom…”. Read between the lines that the Minister is no longer accountable to Cabinet and Parliament, but directly to the Comrades in Luthuli House. President Zuma’s foible of blurring the lines between State and Party is seemingly contagious. We also hope that it is not lost on South Africans that today the ruling party has big issues with Brian Molefe as Eskom CE, but it’s fine for him to represent it (and the people) as a Member of Parliament. Funny logic this, or is there something we are not being told? President Zuma’s midnight shuffle was the tip of the iceberg of ruling party infighting spilling over onto an unsuspecting populace. Corruption, and inefficiency has become the hallmarks of the Zuma administration. These are the facts; like it or not. Those voters who have not yet done so, it is time to open your eyes and see what is straight in front of you; Captain Zuma will doggedly salute the status quo and remain at the helm of the sinking ship of South Africa, whilst listening to the dying band as it is submersed with the rest of us. Statement issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
Admin
29 Apr, 2016
Debate on Budget Vote 11 – Public Works
ADDRESS BY Mr ML Filtane MP in Parliament Honourable Speaker and members The United Democratic Movement (UDM), support the budget vote with the following important comments. The most common problems with this programme are: · Insufficient support by the department with no collaterals from any other source, including the beneficiaries themselves. This makes the beneficiaries to be almost totally dependent on the department; a rather too heavy a burden to bear. · Lack of Project Management skills on the part of the senior management of the department its glaring. This puts the beneficiaries, and therefore, the department in an invidious position where there is so much reliance on the Director General department as stated above. Hence the Minister recently directed that from downwards, staff members should attend a project management course. · The department is caught up in a situation where the Community Property Associations (CPAs) become a law unto themselves thus failing to maximise the opportunities presented to them by the department. In some cases courts are brought in to resolve internal issues. · Kwa Zulu Natal was beginning to see the unfortunate, but unavoidable effects of the drought that has devastated crops and livestock in most provinces of South Africa. · Most beneficiaries of the restitution programme prefer cash to land. This is a political scenario brought about by severe levels of poverty, both of the ability to develop land and make it productive, as well as lack of foresight in so far as the long term benefits of owning land are some people do not understand that land appreciates in value because of external factors not necessarily influenced by its owner. More advocacy is needed as a critical component of the restitution programme. Accordingly; we strongly suggest that this political challenge should no longer just be addressed through a simple mechanical process of qualifying people for restitution but rather that people must be offered land only. I cannot find anything contrary to the Bill of Rights therein and therefore such a policy would withstand a constitutional test. The slow pace of restitution is actually a contravention of section 25 (6) of the constitution. Government just cannot deliver on its promises of the promised land. Thank you
Admin
07 May, 2015
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION: Vote 11 on Public Works
ADDRESS BY Mr ML Filtane MP Hon Chairperson, Minister and Members The United Democratic Movement supports the budget. However we want to drive home the following important issues for the department to pay the necessary attention to, during the current financial season. • For the financial year 2014/15, the Minister committed the department to creation of over a million work opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme as a contribution to the overall commitment to create 6 million work opportunities by 2019. In this regard, the department should quarterly and annually update its statistics against the targets and report accordingly. • During our oversight visit to Pretoria, one eight storey building, in which the Council for the Built Environment is involved, was discovered to be socially unfriendly and non-compliant with basic prescripts governing and regulating conditions for buildings, private and public. This matter needs to be attended to urgently. One ablution facility and toilet to serve 32 tenants in one floor is just not acceptable. • The Departmental Offices situated in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, has not been functioning optimally for a while, allegedly due to internal management challenges. This situation, if left unattended to, is compromising the efficiency and effectiveness of the department to render its services to its clientele. The Departmental Administrative Head should ensure that the situation is resolved. • The department must move with speed in finalising all the outstanding lease agreements. • The security of the Parliamentary villages remains a very sore and critical matter, this is notwithstanding all important decisions taken in the past. We still receive reports of break inns and uninvited visitors from outside in the middle of the night, risking the security of members. The department must ensure that once decisions are taken, they are implemented with the speedy they deserve. It must be remembered that this is classified as PRESTIGE PORTFOLIO of the department. • We need to get an update reports on the suitability of all government buildings in terms of access by people with disability as regulated. The department undertook last year to ensure that all Government buildings are compliant. • This budget, must also consider the funding framework for the Independent Development Trust. This should be consistent with the mandate of the IDT. The future of the employees of this entity remains uncertain, whilst this matter remains in limbo. The UDM hopes that corruption that has been widely reported, painting the department as a heaven of corrupt activities, is being aggressively addressed at an accelerated pace. I thank you. End
Admin
07 May, 2015
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION: Vote 11 on Public Works
ADDRESS BY Mr ML Filtane MP Hon Chairperson, Minister and Members The United Democratic Movement supports the budget. However we want to drive home the following important issues for the department to pay the necessary attention to, during the current financial season. • For the financial year 2014/15, the Minister committed the department to creation of over a million work opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme as a contribution to the overall commitment to create 6 million work opportunities by 2019. In this regard, the department should quarterly and annually update its statistics against the targets and report accordingly. • During our oversight visit to Pretoria, one eight storey building, in which the Council for the Built Environment is involved, was discovered to be socially unfriendly and non-compliant with basic prescripts governing and regulating conditions for buildings, private and public. This matter needs to be attended to urgently. One ablution facility and toilet to serve 32 tenants in one floor is just not acceptable. • The Departmental Offices situated in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, has not been functioning optimally for a while, allegedly due to internal management challenges. This situation, if left unattended to, is compromising the efficiency and effectiveness of the department to render its services to its clientele. The Departmental Administrative Head should ensure that the situation is resolved. • The department must move with speed in finalising all the outstanding lease agreements. • The security of the Parliamentary villages remains a very sore and critical matter, this is notwithstanding all important decisions taken in the past. We still receive reports of break inns and uninvited visitors from outside in the middle of the night, risking the security of members. The department must ensure that once decisions are taken, they are implemented with the speedy they deserve. It must be remembered that this is classified as PRESTIGE PORTFOLIO of the department. • We need to get an update reports on the suitability of all government buildings in terms of access by people with disability as regulated. The department undertook last year to ensure that all Government buildings are compliant. • This budget, must also consider the funding framework for the Independent Development Trust. This should be consistent with the mandate of the IDT. The future of the employees of this entity remains uncertain, whilst this matter remains in limbo. The UDM hopes that corruption that has been widely reported, painting the department as a heaven of corrupt activities, is being aggressively addressed at an accelerated pace. I thank you. End
Admin
22 Jul, 2014
Eastern Cape: Budget vote Roads and Public Works
Speech by Mr Mhlati, leader of the UDM in the legislature Honourable Speaker, Honourable Premier and the Executive, Honourable Members, government officials in supporting the budget allocation of the department, the UDM would like to place more emphasis on the acute shortage of skilled personnel within the department. It is unthinkable that a government department can just literally depend on consultants for it to perform its functions. I plead with the Executive to give their full support in the recruitment drive to put the staffing of the department to the acceptable levels. As matters stand we are not sure whether the companies are forming cartels or not against this government as price escalations have become the order of the day. Although the establishment of the yellow fleet within the department is appreciated the lack of quality supervision is of great concern. Some of these yellow fleet teams are selling the diesel earmarked for the machinery to people who have trucks and tractors and you always find the employees roaming about in the rural areas and when you ask them why the machinery is standing idle, there is no diesel. It is also important that the traditional leaders should be called upon to perform their function as eyes and ears of government and to report any fraudulent activities by the members of the yellow fleet. The department should please ensure that companies awarded tenders in rural roads have the appropriate equipment for road -making not just a grader, we expect quality work for the quality money we pay out. A clear line of demarcation of responsibilities between the department and other departments such as health and education of which this department has a part to play. Clear memorandums of understanding among the parties should be drawn putting the areas of responsibility of each player up until the final product is completed and quality assured. The Government should come out in the open as to whether we want quality roads and buildings or we want to promote emerging contractors at the expense of quality work. This issue comes out of the N2 road through Mthatha to Viedgesville which has not yet finished two years but is being done patch work on a daily basis. I faced some managers for the shoddy work which they do for the Government and they put the blame on the emerging contractors they are forced to take. Stringent steps should be taken by the Department to complete the development of the asset Register of Government properties in the Province and must make use of the Surveyors to search and identify the properties. Furthermore, illegal occupants of Government properties should be prosecuted and caused to pay rental. The total budget of R4,025 444 billion for the Department is fully supported. I thank you
Admin
16 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 7 – Public Works (MTEF 2014)
Contribution made by UDM Member of Parliament, Mr ML Filtane, in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members This department is charged with the custodianship and management of government immovable assets; ancillary thereto, it takes initiatives to develop such infrastructure as may be needed by various government departments, from time to time. It must also reform and radically improve the construction sector of our economy. This is a department that is consistently surrounded by allegations of fraud and corruption on a number of fronts like leasing of buildings and construction of new assets; add to that, a very inadequate mix of staffers to drive its programmes. The staff inadequacy results, specifically in poor service delivery and poor financial controls. It is against this backdrop that the United Democratic Movement (UDM) submits thus: • The filling in of critical and strategic posts must be prioritised by the department so that lease agreements can be efficiently managed. • Incentives need to be offered to enhance the recruitment and retention of appropriately qualified personnel. • Some very experienced building contractors were strategically and cruelly eliminated from the CIDB system when it was established. As has been the case with land claims, the department is urged to re-convene another construction Indaba this financial year so that those who were left out earlier could find an opportunity to enter the system. That will constitute an element of radical change to the CIDB system. This CIDB is just not serving the purpose for which it was established in the first place. African contractors are seldom found in the grades higher than 1 and 2. The R827 billions set aside for this term will be a pie in the sky for them. The reason offered by the board for not effectively improving the qualifications for these African contractors to meet the procurement requirements are not convincing. • The department should develop policy and legislation that supports the cause of improving the qualification levels of the African contractors. • Transfers to provinces and municipalities need close monitoring to ensure in particular, that the EPWP funds and utilised for the development intentions that we intended and this is with specific reference to municipalities. This fund, we propose, should be linked to other socio economic programmes of local government. A policy will have to be developed to guide municipalities in this regard. • We can’t over state the continued failure to pay service providers like contractors as per the generic government policy. In this regard, the department must put an end to this behaviour and toe the line of government. Thank you
