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The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants lifestyle audits conducted on Phokwane municipal officials in respect of incomplete projects that are unduly put on ice, ultimately impacting on service delivery.

Frustrations within the taxi industry are boiling over due to road repairs coming to a standstill. In effect, Cwaile and Mathe streets in Valspan have remained dangerously and largely undrivable in places for a prolonged period of time.

During a recent meeting with the section manager and the municipal manager in Jan Kempdorp, it was alleged that the execution of instructions for the temporary repair of the roads was not taking place because the community and taxi drivers are preventing the municipality from taking action.

A subsequent stakeholder meeting with the community, however, exposed this as a lie. Instead, ulterior agendas of municipal officials are strongly believed to be affecting the finalization of contracts, which is hindering service delivery.

The needs of the community cannot be sidelined while cushy contracts are negotiated for individuals.

A multi-party municipal task team, of which the DA forms a key part, has already been established to investigate allegations that municipal officials are irregularly negotiating with tenderpreneurs to influence contracts.

Following the receipt of the forensic report, the DA will request that lifestyle audits are conducted on officials.

We cannot allow the awarding of contracts in Phokwane to be guided by kickbacks instead of service delivery.

Issued by Cllr Annette Van Wyk - Phokwane Municipality