DA challenges MEC of Roads to take responsibility for misconduct

14 July 2016

The DA is shocked by the comments made by MEC of Public Works and Roads, Madoda Sambatha. He recently accused contractors of fanning community unrest and protests by encouraging residents to demand tarred roads.

It is his job to deliver proper, safe roads to our communities. His comments show his lack of respect and understanding for residents’ legitimate concerns.

His department is in shambles. Less than a month ago, six Senior Managers from the Department of Public Works were suspended for alleged misconduct. This seems to be just the tip of the iceberg as the DA can confirm that an estimated R400 million has been lost due to fraud, corruption and financial mismanagement in his department. 

Sambatha’s ridiculous comments and management of his department again show that critical interventions at the department are needed. They are not delivering the services they are mandated to and the Province’s roads are indicative of the ANC-lead government’s inability to deliver on their promises. 

By blaming the contractors, he is simply resorting to desperate excuses to cover up his own failures to deliver decent roads in the province. He is ignoring the plight of our people and the need for proper infrastructure to build and develop our communities. Jobs cannot be created unless the environment is lucrative for investors and without safe roads, investment will not come.

The DA challenges the MEC to reveal the results of the investigations as soon as they are completed and to publicly apologise to poor communities and contractors whom he offended with his careless remarks.

We call on the people of North West to no longer settle for the ANC’s lies, empty promises and blame shifting. Take a stand and vote for real change in this province; change that delivers better services, stops corruption and gets us moving forward again.

Issued by SP Motswenyane, Public Works, Roads and Transport Spokesperson, 14 July 2016