The inability of the Department of Roads and Public Works to complete capital infrastructure projects within scheduled time, will cost the Northern Cape province an astonishing R16.2 million.
This was revealed by MEC Fufe Makatong, during an introductory briefing at the legislature for MPLs and members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), earlier this week.
Of the 47 capital infrastructure projects, 15 of these projects belong to the Department of Education, 22 to the Department of Health, 5 to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, 3 to the Department of Social Development and the remaining 3 to other departments.
The DA is particularly concerned about incomplete school buildings such as the Magajoneng Primary School which only stands at 25% completion, the Oranje Oewer Intermediate School at 45% completion and Kuruman Secondary School at 20% completion. If the time over-runs of these and the 13 other school construction projects is calculated together, it will take the Department of Roads and Public Works a staggering 8 years to complete.
This means that learners in these rural areas will have to wait almost a decade to gain access to schools that are conducive for learning and do not pose risks to their safety.
The DA strongly condemns the slow turnaround time for completing much needed infrastructure projects in the province that subsequently have a detrimental effect on the poorest of the poor.
We will further be submitting a formal request for a debate on the Northern Cape’s growing portfolio of incomplete and dilapidated infrastructure.