Mathabatha place DPWRI under professional assessment

Limpopo

The Premier of Limpopo Province, Chupu Stanley Mathabatha, has appointed a team of professionals to assess issues of governance and leadership, financial management and service delivery in the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure (DPWRI).

According to Willy Mosoma, Limpopo Premier Spokesperson, the assessment team was appointed by the premier following various complaints made by stakeholders in relation to the state of roads in the province.

“The premier felt it was important to act accordingly after receiving complaints from various stakeholder seeking his intervention in the improvement of the state of provincial roads. Among stakeholders who raised concerns are traditional leaders who are not happy about the conditions of provincial roads at their respective places,” he said.

Mosoma added that it is against this background that the Head of the Department (HOD) of Public Works Roads and Infrastructure, Dikgale Seroka, has been seconded to the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), effective from 24 April 2023.

He said among complaints reported to the premier’s office include the long overdue outcry of the upgrading of the R25 Road in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality and Tshikanoshi Road in Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality.

“The assessment team was instructed to provide a full report to the premier’s office in 90 days. The report will guide Mathabatha to take proper measures to address the community concerns in relation to the improvement of the standard of roads in the province,” informed Mosoma.

However, Mosoma said the premier is confident with the current leadership in the DPWRI.

“We are aware that the Public Works and Infrastructure Department is well-functioning, but we cannot ignore the pleas of the community who are not satisfied with the state of the provincial roads. We want to listen to the public because we care for our communities,” he said.

Mathabatha said: “We believe that the report of the appointed professional team will help the premier’s office to make an informed decision about the department.”