The Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature has raised serious concerns over delayed progress on the D20 and R555 road project between eMalahleni and Middelburg.
The visit was conducted during the legislature’s week-long programme, where members listened to community concerns at Themba Senamela Stadium.
The ‘Taking the legislature to the people’ programme ends tomorrow (September 4), when Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu concludes the event.

7-day deadline for report

Speaking during an oversight visit to the site, Portfolio Committee on Public Works, Roads and Transport chairperson Sonto Malepeng said she is dissatisfied with the slow pace of work and ongoing delays.
“We are here in Middelburg to conduct an oversight visit on roads D20 and R555, located on the old Witbank road. We have identified numerous challenges along this stretch. We have requested the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to provide us with a detailed report within seven days, as there is currently no visible progress,” she said.

Departmental accountability

Malepeng emphasised that the committee will hold MEC Thulasizwe Thomo and the department’s leadership accountable to ensure the project gets back on track.
“As the portfolio committee, we will make sure that when the MEC and his team come to answer to us, they will be held accountable for this project,” she added.
“The department needs to ensure the project is completed on time, because it is currently running behind schedule.”

• The Observer tried to contact the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to confirm if they received the request and if a report will be sent to the Portfolio Committee in the designated timeframe. No reply was received before publication.