The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Phokwane is demanding answers about a road resealing project on the road leading to the primary school in Bonita Park, Hartswater, which appears to have been fast-tracked ahead of the now cancelled visit by Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
The project seemingly began out of nowhere in the lead-up to the planned visit, only to come to an abrupt halt after the Deputy President’s trip was cancelled. The timing raises serious questions about whether the project was driven by the needs of the community or political motivations.
The DA supports fixing roads and welcomes any project that improves safety for learners, parents and motorists. However, every project must be properly planned, transparently procured and funded in accordance with municipal planning, procurement and financial regulations.
Recent municipal tender notices for road maintenance materials have already raised questions about how this project was approved and funded. The fact that the work started before the Deputy President’s planned visit and stopped after it was cancelled raises even more questions.
Phokwane Municipality has a troubling history of poor planning and relying on emergency procurement processes that bypass normal supply chain procedures and weaken accountability. In the 2023/24 financial year alone, the municipality spent more than R395 million without adequate supporting documentation.
The DA has therefore submitted formal questions to determine where this project appears in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) or municipal planning documents; under which budget it is being funded; whether it was approved by Council or forms part of the municipality’s maintenance programme; what procurement process was followed; who the appointed contractor or service provider is; and what the total value of the project is.
Residents deserve to know whether municipal resources are being used to meet the needs of the community or to score political points.
The DA will continue to hold Phokwane Municipality accountable and insist on full transparency to ensure that all infrastructure projects are properly planned, lawfully implemented and fully accounted for.