Durban - President Cyril Ramaphosa’s opening address on Friday to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on the South Coast was intermittently disrupted by members of the EFF who referred to the president as a money launderer.
Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm scandal threatened to become the centre of attention as EFF members of the NCOP led calls for Ramaphosa to reveal the source of the millions stolen at the farm in an unreported robbery in February 2020.
Ramaphosa was in Port Shepstone in the Ugu District of the province on the final day of the week-long Taking Parliament To The People oversight programme of the NCOP. It was aimed at bringing leaders closer to local communities for them to air their grievances on issues such as roads, transport and public infrastructure.
Many areas in the Ugu District have been beset by numerous challenges including housing, particularly following the floods in April and May, when many people’s homes were swept away, and the lack of water and tarred roads.
NCOP chairperson Amos Masondo had his work cut out trying to get the EFF members not to disrupt Ramaphosa’s address and eventually succeeded when he threatened to throw out the members who repeatedly rose on points of order, that Masondo rejected.
Mmabatho Olive Mokause, an EFF member of the NCOP, said they did not want to be addressed by a president who had broken his oath of office.
“The people of Ugu region don’t have water and he’s not going to address the house, he is not honourable, he is a dishonourable president who lies on top of dollars. He has no right to address the people of the Ugu region,” Mokause said.
The Ugu District, a predominantly farming area in the province, has been hard hit by water shortages, but this was one of the main challenges that were aired before the NCOP, ministers and Ramaphosa.
When Ramaphosa eventually resumed his address, he acknowledged the grievances voiced by residents, particularly on the poor state of the roads in parts of the district which made it difficult for learners to get to schools and for people to reach clinics.
Ramaphosa said: “The state of the roads is making it difficult for workers to get to work, and for businesses to transport their products to markets. Good roads are not just important to people’s everyday lives, they also open up economic opportunities and strengthen local economic development.
“We have heard during the public hearings that the people of this district need housing, particularly after the floods earlier this year destroyed many homes and businesses.”
Ramaphosa added that the government would continue with the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant next year and that although people wanted an increase, this was not yet possible as the government did not have enough money.
Community members raised several infrastructure needs including water, transport and the improvement of roads in the rural areas.
Mabheko Gcwensa from a ward in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality commended the government for improving roads such as the main road, the P732, between Izingolweni and Bushy Vales and the R61 road near Margate.
“We would like the government to provide us with a tarred road on District Road 203 so that it can be an alternate route for motorists if there are service delivery protests in areas such as San Lameer, Marina and South Broom.
“We are also asking for the government to build pedestrian bridges, especially in areas like Marina and San Lameer where many pedestrians lose their lives as a result of being mowed down by cars,” Gcwensa said.
Mlungiselwa Xaba from uMuziwabantu also called for the development of roads in his area as motorists and pedestrians were subjected to travelling on gravel roads.
“It is close to 10 years now without a proper road and when there are heavy downpours you can’t even go to town because of the bad state of the road,” Xaba said.
Bongeka Jali, from ward 9 in uMuziwabantu, said that the poor state of the gravel roads which had quarry stones in the area sometimes meant that when there were heavy rains the quarry stones were swept away and the gravel roads became muddy and inaccessible.
“We have also been struggling for water for years and we also can’t access water tankers because the trucks cannot go up the roads because of the terrible condition of the roads. When there are deaths in the community families have to carry the coffins of their loved ones up the road because of the terrible state of the road,” Jali said.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE