This is according to Johan Jordaan, DA member of the Ekurhuleni Roads and Transport Oversight Committee.
“The fourth quarter of the 2015/2016 financial year ends on June 30 and, like residents of this metro, the DA grows frustrated with incompetent heads of departments who continue to underperform,” said Jordaan.
“For the year 2015/2016, the department received a R1.6-billion budget allocation, the biggest allocation of all portfolios, but, as the financial year ends, only R590-million was spent.
“The department identified and listed 375 capital projects and, of these, only 193 were started by the department. A shocking 51 per cent, leaving 182 capital projects untouched.
“More worryingly is that, of the 193 started projects, a lacklustre 20 were completed.
“The operational expenditure for the department for repairs and maintenance for three regions was R82-m. At the end of the third quarter only R2.52-m, a poor three per cent, had been spent. The asset value of Ekurhuleni is R15.3-b.
”This is poor planning in action and highlights mismanagement and dysfunctionality of the department.
“Not spending money which has been allocated to the department is shocking and those responsible need to be held accountable.”
Jordaan said an explanation must be provided by the metro.
“We have been raising these issues on the lack of service delivery for over three years. In return we have received only excuses,” he added.
“We will insistently ask the metro why the residents of Ekurhuleni have to be forced to drive on pothole-filled roads that are in disrepair when there is money to fix them.
“The loss of 110 000 job opportunities in Ekurhuleni is the evidence that the city has neglected its veins for economic growth.”
Full steam ahead to fix potholes
