Mqanduli residents will soon access government services closer to their doorstep, following the unveiling of the Mqanduli Office Precinct construction project which, upon completion, will be a one-stop shop, housing four government departments.
This comes after former Eastern Cape public works and infrastructure MEC, Babalo Madikizela, officiated a sod turning ceremony on a piece of land where the construction is set to take place, on July 26.
Madikizela has since resigned from his position, with Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, appointing provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Xolile Nqatha, to act as Public Works and Infrastructure MEC.
The Mqanduli Office Precinct construction project has been allocated an amount of R155 million with 30 percent of that earmarked to benefit local small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs).
“The one-stop shop office precincts are meant to bring government services closer to our people, where they can access government services in one place.
“The development will also unlock economic spin-offs that go far beyond bringing government services as they have the potential also to attract investment to the towns where they are located,” said Madikizela.
He further confirmed that the main contractor had already been appointed and was on site with actual work on the project set to get underway within 14 days.
Mqanduli Development Forum coordinator, Malizole Mahili, said they had been agitating for the project since 2007.
“We noticed that Mqanduli has a vast radius and people come from far to get government services here and, because government departments are scattered across the town, some went back home without getting the service they came for,” Mahili said.
“We are comfortable that we have reached a stage in which the government has listened to our pleas and are very pleased to witness the sod-turning ceremony that gives us hope that what we have been calling for will finally be realized,” Mahili added.
King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Nyaniso Nelani, also welcomed the office precinct project, saying it augured well with their plans to revitalise Mqanduli.
“The investment by the provincial government through this project means a lot to the municipality, and we are particularly happy that the project will bring about job opportunities for the locals,” Nelani said.
The Mqanduli Office Precinct will house the departments of Education, Social Development, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, upon completion.
