Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature’s governance and administration cluster (G & A Cluster) committees embarked on an intensive oversight programme from May 16-20.
They visited Mhlontlo Local Municipality, Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality and OR Tambo District Municipality.
This cluster comprises the following portfolio committees: finance, office of the premier and cooperative governance and traditional affairs.
This crucial oversight covers all districts and metros in the province. According to the chairperson for portfolio committee for the office of the premier, Mzoleli Mrara, they visited these municipalities to see whether projects that were funded by the office were operating effectively.
He said the legislature had a constitutional obligation and mandate to oversee the work of departments and state entities to check whether the monies that were voted were utilised for the intended purposes and to check whether service delivery and change in people’s livelihood had been realised.
He said they were satisfied about what they saw in these projects.
“We also went to Qumbu where we inspected the Qhwesha Development Project, which is owned by small farmers from that area. In this project they are also ploughing vegetables; they are doing very well to the extent that they are distributing their products to Spar and Boxer Supermarkets. Even Hawkers buy vegetables from them,” said Mrara.
The chairperson for the Qhwesha Development Project, Vusumzi Nikelo, said they were happy to be visited by this committee.
“If we were not funded by the office of the premier, surely we would be still struggling, but ever since he supported us our business is shaping to the right direction,” said Nikelo. He said in the next two years they would be assisting more projects.
He added that it was important for this committee to follow up so that they could see that they (farmers) did not misuse the funds, and they were doing what was expected of them.
